Pilots gave a "textbook" emergency response when a New Zealand colleague became unwell during an Auckland-bound Los Angeles flight on Saturday, aviation experts say.

Three people have been hurt, one seriously, in a light plane crash north of Otorohanga.

A small plane on a scenic flight forced an Air New Zealand Airbus A320 to take evasive action over Auckland - terrifying passengers, who clung to their seats as the big plane sharply changed course.