KEY POINTS:
An escaped prisoner took control of a bus carrying some 20 passengers at Auckland Airport this afternoon, before being caught by members of the public and police.
Airport visitor Al Ronberg told nzherald.co.nz it appeared a man had taken control of an Airbus bus travelling from the airport's domestic terminal to the city about 2.12pm.
He said the man was "screaming and yelling very violently".
Inspector Richard Middleton denied it was a hijacking, but confirmed the escaped prisoner had driven a bus after failing to get a taxi.
"It wasn't a hijacking - he did get on the bus and started driving it," he said.
"It's still sketchy. He was a prisoner in the care of Corrections being transported domestically. He's escaped from them - he tried to take a taxi, but was unsuccessful."
Mr Middleton said the prisoner was caught by members of the public and police.
Mr Ronberg said it appeared the bus was made to turn towards the airport's international terminal instead of its city destination.
He said some 20 passengers were let off the bus at the intersection.
"It stopped at the lights heading from domestic terminal city-bound and then it let the people off, before turning left towards the international terminal," Mr Ronberg said.
"The man was screaming and yelling very violently and people were stumbling off the bus."
Mr Ronberg said when he went inside the international terminal to meet his family, the bus was parked at barrier arms and "surrounded by cop cars".
A staff member at a nearby petrol station said she called the police after being alerted to the incident by a motorist.
General manager of EX Group - which manages Airbus Express - Sue Sullivan went to the scene this afternoon and said the company was cooperating with police.
Ms Sullivan said the driver was being helped by victim support.
"She's traumatised," she said.
Ms Sullivan said the passengers have been taken to their accommodation and there were no injuries.
She said bus timetables were running as normal.
The Department of Corrections has confirmed that a prisoner escaped from custody this afternoon while being transferred from Mt Eden Prison to Wanganui Prison.
Northern regional manager Warren Cummins said full details of the escape were not available but the prisoner is in police custody and is being interviewed.
He said the circumstances surrounding the escape will be investigated.
- NZHERALD STAFF
