Bomb threat at Gisborne airport: sniffer dog blown up

Gisborne airport has reopened after an explosives detection specialist dog was airlifted after a bomb threat.

Hundreds of passengers, including dozens returning home from the popular Rhythm & Vines festival, saw their travel plans confused with planes diverted mid-air or delayed and canceled due to the threat this morning. They were forced to wait in the fields for hours.

Police invaded the airport and passengers and staff were evacuated from the terminal shortly after 11 a.m. after the airport received a call saying there was an explosive.

The airport said flights would resume this afternoon, but delays were expected.

A police spokeswoman said: “Staff cleared the airport and nothing was found. Police continue to investigate the circumstances.”

Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz previously said the threat was being taken seriously and a canine bomb-tracking specialist was heading to Gisborne from Wellington to search the facilities.

“I just got updated and we know that a call to the airport was made this morning with a bomb threat regarding an outbound flight, so the police took over immediately,” he said.

Stoltz said a sniffer dog was expected to arrive in the middle of the afternoon to do an extensive sweep of the airport and the plane.

“Then hopefully the sniffer dog will be able to check the bags and the plane in the next hour and hopefully we can open the airport later today without incident.”

Stoltz said the bomb threat had caused considerable disruption throughout the day.

“I’ve seen some photos of people outside the terminal. It’s probably one of the busiest days at Gisborne airport due to the R&V festival and everyone is leaving today.”

Airport authorities had been warning passengers to expect delays for hours. He advised anyone who needs to fly or pick someone up from the airport today to call ahead and check for delays.

At least four flights out of Gisborne were delayed and one was canceled. Others who were flying were delayed or diverted.

Portaloos were brought in for the waiting passengers, and the police continued to block the entrance to the airport while investigations were carried out.

No one was able to leave or enter the airport.

A police spokesman said the cordon will be lifted once police have established the circumstances surrounding the threat and speak with those involved.

A woman waiting for a flight to Wellington said travelers and staff leaving the crowded terminal were waiting under trees and in a nearby field as the emergency unfolded.

Emma Clarke said it was turning out to be an annoying disruption, as her noon flight home had been canceled and a second flight was hours away.

He said airport staff had not said anything about the evacuation to people waiting on the ground.

The only sign that something was wrong was when travelers were told that a plane bound for Auckland was delayed due to a technical problem.

“So they were all forced out of the airport,” Clarke said.

At the time, they were all forced to gather on nearby grounds under the sweltering midday sun as emergency services, including police and firefighters, arrived to investigate the threat to air travelers, he said.