An Air New Zealand ATR 72 had to make an emergency landing at Wellington Airport after one of its engines caught fire.
The ATR 72-600 with registration ZK-MVL was operating flight NZ5366 from Christchurch to Wellington and was preparing to touch down when the incident took place. Eyewitnesses captured the scene as thick smoke billowed from the left engine.
As the aircraft came to a stop on the runway, emergency services were immediately on the scene. All passengers and crew members evacuated the aircraft, and there were no reported injuries.
Air New Zealand’s Head of Flight Operations, Hugh Pearce, confirmed the safe landing and subsequent evacuation. While the exact cause of the engine fire remains under investigation, Pearce acknowledged that flight disruptions were expected in Wellington due to the incident.
The affected aircraft, an ATR 72-600 with the registration ZK-MVL, is powered by PW127M engines.
