Great Barrier Airlines Trislander Fire

About 12 people were evacuated from a small aircraft which caught fire at Auckland Airport this morning.  Emergency services were called to the airport at 8am after the Great Barrier Airlines aircraft's wheel brake caused the fire in the undercarriage. Great Barrier Airlines chief executive Mark Roberts said the plane was taxiing out when the pilot noticed the brake was binding.  "He turned back and as he took the aircraft back the brake overheated which caused smoke coming out of the undercarriage," he said.  "As he unloaded the passengers a small fire broke out, which he tried to extinguish with a fire extinguisher onboard the plane, but because of the heat the fire kept reigniting."  Fire fighters were able to extinguish the fire almost immediately after arriving on the scene, using dry powder. A police communications spokesman said earlier the plane was forced to make an emergency landing. All passengers were safely evacuated and caught a similar aircraft to Great Barrier Island and hour and a half later. Roberts said the incident was the first of its kind involving the airline's planes since he took over as chief executive in February.

Source : http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/7034792/Great-Barrier-bound-plane-catches-fire