Transport investigators are looking into how a cargo door flew open on a small aircraft carrying nine passengers and three crew this morning, forcing it to make an emergency landing at Auckland Airport.
The Eagle Air Beech aircraft had just taken off on a flight to Whangarei and was about 60 metres off the ground when the rear cargo door opened, said Mark Street from Air New Zealand, which owns Eagle Air.
"The aircraft immediately returned to Auckland Airport landing a few minutes later without further incident," he said.
Passengers were put on another flight to Whangarei.
Transport Accident Investigation Commission spokesman Peter Northcote said two investigators were looking into how the incident happened, and interviewing the flight crew and engineering staff.
"There was minor damage to the exterior of the aircraft, but not as would affect control of the aircraft," he said.
Fire Service shift controller Jaron Phillips said 10 fire crews were sent to the airport, but the plane had landed safely by the time they arrived.
