By rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission
An Air New Zealand flight has landed at Sydney Airport following reports of a bomb threat on board.
9 News said flight NZ247 arrived from Wellington about 5.40pm local time (7.40pm NZT), with a tactical operations unit, paramedics and firefighters all called to the scene.
The plane had 154 staff and passengers on board, the channel reported.
Multiple Australian news outlets said the huge emergency services response was due to a bomb scare on board the plane.
Journalist Brian Wilson said the plane stopped on a utility taxiway, away from the airport terminals, and remained there for more than an hour.
It then taxied to the international terminal, where it was met by Federal Police.
Air New Zealand was “aware of a security incident” on board the flight, the airline’s chief operational integrity and safety officer Captain David Morgan said in a statement.
“We are working with the local authorities and following standard protocols established for such incidents.”
7News said no-one had been seen coming in or out of the A320 plane since it landed.
Up to 40 emergency services vehicles were at the scene, including bomb squad cars and armed police, the outlet said.
It appeared planes at the airport briefly entered a holding pattern while the aircraft landed, 7News said.
9News reported about 9.15pm that emergency services were starting to be stood down.
The incident comes just one day after King Charles III and Queen Camilla touched down at Sydney Airport for a tour of Australia.
An Australian Federal Police spokesperson said the force had “responded to an incident on board an aircraft that was en route to the airport”.
Investigations were ongoing, they said.
“There is no threat to the community.”
New South Wales Police said the federal police was the lead agency for the incident, but “considerable NSW Police resources” responded to the airport.
“Most have now been stood down,” a spokesperson said about 10pm NZT.
Sydney Airport has been contacted for comment.
