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Queenstown Airport evacuated after potential bomb alert

Queenstown Airport passengers have had to be evacuated and incoming aircraft diverted as authorities deal with a potential bomb alert.

The airport said it activated its emergency security protocols shortly after 8.30am and emergency services were called.

Police said the terminal was evacuated as a safety precaution after they received a report of what appeared to be an explosive device.

On its Facebook page, Queenstown Airport said it remained closed while authorities worked through a risk assessment process which was likely to take several hours.

It requested that passengers and members of the public stay away from the airport until it had been given clearance to reopen.

Queenstown Airport said flights would be delayed and it was arranging food and shelter for passengers who required it.

Police said NZDF Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit had been notified and would respond.

Air New Zealand said so far it had cancelled 10 flights as a result of the situation - four inbound and six outbound.

"We apologise to our passengers for the disruption, especially as this has happened at the end of the busy school holidays period. Safety is our number one priority and we are working with the relevant authorities," Air New Zealand said in a statement.

All passengers due to depart on Friday or picking up passengers from incoming flights are asked not to come to the airport until told otherwise.

Updates on flight details will be issued by the airlines and by Queenstown Airport through their Facebook page.

Geoff is supposed to be flying out to Sydney early this afternoon but he has been caught up in the disruption at Queenstown Airport.

Geoff is supposed to be flying out to Sydney early this afternoon but he has been caught up in the disruption at Queenstown Airport. Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton

One of the passengers caught up in the disruption, Geoff, said he was supposed to be flying to Sydney early Friday afternoon.

"I've checked Qantas there's nothing happening there yet, but I've checked with some friends and they're saying something about a bomb, that's all I know so I presume what they'll do is clear the airport, just depends how long it's going to take for that to happen."

Geoff said he was relaxed about his flight possibly being delayed as he had somewhere to stay, but he felt sorry for those who were trying to leave and had flights to make or nowhere to stay.

Himanshu and Jahnavi were due to fly to Wellington but missed their 10.15am flight due to the disruption.

Queenstown Airport had to evacuate passengers after a potential bomb alert on 6 October, 2023.

Queenstown Airport had to evacuate passengers after a potential bomb alert on 6 October, 2023. Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton

HImanshu said the airport was already in the process of being evacuated when they arrived there at 9.30am.

His wife, Jahnavi, said they were told they had to park elsewhere when they first arrived and then when they walked back, they could not enter the terminal and people were milling around.

"We were asking everyone 'what's happening', 'how long do we have to wait'."

Adrian Stephen-Feod was at the airport to pick up some cars to take back to Christchurch and said there would be a lot of disrupted people and flights since it was the end of the school holidays.

"We got information on our way down at about 8.45am that the evacuation had taken place, and we arrived here at 10am to find all these people milling around, and this is as far as we've got at the roundabout, we've been turned back so we can't get any further."

Queenstown Airport had to evacuate passengers after a potential bomb alert on 6 October, 2023.