LATEST: A passenger aircraft has made a safe emergency landing at Blenheim's Woodbourne airport after sparking a full emergency with landing gear problems.
A Fire Service spokesman said the plane, with 15 passengers and two crew, had problems with its undercarriage.
It landed on its belly, screeching to a halt just outside the control tower just after 9am.
The badly damaged aircraft was sprayed with foam.
One passenger was taken to hospital for treatment.
The aircraft was an Air New Zealand Link plane on a flight from Timaru to Wellington when it diverted to Blenheim.
The passengers are receiving counselling from volunteers at the Royal New Zealand Air Force's air movements centre at the base.
The airport will be closed for two hours while cranes are brought in to remove the wreckage.
The aircraft was operated by Air New Zealand subsidiary Eagle Air.
Looks like the boys had a hard morning at the office. Well done lads getting it on the ground safely!
