Pilot chases runaway plane

The case of a runaway Cessna plane heading towards Queenstown airport's runway with passengers on board but no pilot is being investigated by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission.

Deputy chief investigator Ken Mathews said the pilot got out of the plane, owned by Milford Sounds Scenic Flights, when the engine would not start to manually turn the propeller.

"During that time the aircraft took off by itself," Mr Mathews told The Press.

The pilot had to chase after his plane and managed to get into it while it was moving and bring it under control before any harm was done, he said. It did not go on to the main runway or disrupt flights.

"But there were other aircraft about, so it wasn't a good thing."

There was nothing mechanically wrong with the plane and it was an issue of whether the pilot had followed the right safety procedures, Mr Mathews said.

There was a person in the cockpit, but it was unclear what that person's role or qualifications were. It is also not yet known how many passengers were on board.

Milford Sounds Scenic Flights director Mark Quickfall said the pilot was stood down after the incident last month and safety procedures improved to ensure aircraft did not make off without their pilots.

"It was a serious incident and error of judgement by the pilot," he said.

- NZPA