Police have escorted a man from an aircraft at Queenstown Airport after he argued with a member of the cabin crew.
Constable Brian Fitzgerald, of Queenstown police, said a passenger on Air New Zealand flight ZQN 683 bound for Auckland was asked to leave the plane about 2.30pm because of "argumentative behaviour".
The man appeared to be upset about moving seats, Const Fitzgerald said.
"He moved from a seat further forward and got in a discussion with an in-flight manager."
A witness told the Otago Daily Times the man "aggressively decided he wanted to get off the plane" shortly before take-off.
The aircraft was forced to return to the terminal so the man could be escorted off by police, the witness said.
Const Fitzgerald said the man was co-operative and was not charged or issued with a warning.
"The captain was happy for him to be removed with no further action taken."
