Man crushed to death in accident at Auckland Airport

A sub-contractor was crushed to death while working at Auckland International Airport today.

Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Auckland manager John Forrest said the man was crushed between the bucket of a digger and a truck while the digger was moving earth.

Mr Forrest said OSH inspectors were at the scene but he did not know which company the man worked for.

"There's construction all over the airport like a mini city out there, so there is lots happening all the time. This was somewhere out on the tarmac."

The airport company issued a statement saying the man had been working on a water main replacement project on the airfield.

The company said the midday accident was a tragedy for his family, friends and workmates.

It did not involve an aircraft and did not affect airport operations.

A company spokesman said the accident happened at least 2km from the main passenger terminals and would not have been witnessed by the public.

The water main replacement was one of three separate construction projects being carried out on the main runway, the spokesman said.