PHOTO : DHC-8 nosewheel collapse during landing at Blenheim

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http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4184677 ... im-airport

Plane crash lands at Blenheim airport

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 18:38 30/09/2010

DEREK FLYNN/ Marlborough Express ON THE NOSE: No one was injured when a Bombardier Dash 8 Q-300 crash landed at Blenheim airport.

A passenger plane has crash landed at Blenheim airport this afternoon and all on board have got off safely.

The Bombardier Dash-8 Q300 aircraft's nose wheel has collapsed but there is no other visible damage.

Airport manager Dean Heiford said no one was injured.

Air New Zealand confirmed that the Q300, operated by subsidiary Air Nelson, experienced a nose wheel failure after landing at Blenheim at 5:05pm.

Flight NZ8441, from Wellington to Nelson, had diverted to Blenheim due to poor weather in Nelson.

There were 46 passengers and three crew onboard.

The aircraft remains on the runway and will be inspected by engineers.

Passengers were taken from the plane by bus at 5.30pm and were being looked after in an airport building away from the terminal.

A man waiting in the airport terminal for a flight said the plane circled a few times quite low along the runway and then landed in a short distance.

Emergency services arrived while the plane was circling, he said.

The terminal was full of people waiting for passengers and those waiting to catch flights.

All flights are on hold until 6.30pm, when the situation will be reassessed.

Emergency services are still at the scene.

Lisa-Marie Gibson, barista at a café in the airport, said no-one made a fuss in terminal. "I didn't realise it had happened until a policeman came in.”