RNZAF plane taking off on tsunami relief flight

A Royal New Zealand Air Force transport aircraft is set to take off at midday to work with the Australian air force on a relief mission to areas of Southeast Asia devastated by tsunamis.

Defence Force spokeswoman Commander Sandy McKie said the RNZAF C130 Hercules would fly from Whenuapai air base to Darwin where the crew would await further instructions.

"We're working with the Australians. At this stage what the Indonesians and the Thais are looking for is capacity to evacuate people and shuttle relief stores," Cdr McKie told NZPA.

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- NZPA