Military aircraft emergency alerts detailed

New Zealand military aircraft have issued almost 100 emergency alerts over the past three years.

The 97 emergency callouts included five full emergencies involving Hercules transport planes, Orion surveillance aircraft and a training plane called the Texan II.

A full emergency is declared when an aircraft approaching an airfield is known to have, or suspected of having, a problem which could result in an accident. The information was contained in data released by the New Zealand Defence Force under the Official Information Act.

The data’s release coincided with a breakdown of one of airforce’s two Boeing 757s, which left Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern high and dry in Australia on Friday.

‘‘During pre-flight checks the aircraft suffered a failure of its air data computer, which is an essential part of its flight management system,’’ the Defence Force said.

The Defence Force’s eight Seasprite helicopters sparked the most emergency alerts since 2016, with 23 in total.

The emergency alerts were largely due to in-flight anomalies, warning lights for oil, and fuel issues.

At O¯ hakea in October 2018, a Texan II’s wheels were up on landing, resulting in a full emergency. A court of inquiry is pending but the two crew were noted as being ‘‘OK’’.

Among the emergency callouts in 2018 was the forced landing of a World War II-era Harvard. A mayday call was transmitted and it landed on its belly off-base in O¯ hakea. It is still awaiting repair.

In a testament to their age, the air force’s Orions and Hercules combined made up 37 of the total emergency alerts.

The planes, which are more than 50 years old, are being replaced as part of the Defence Force’s new $20 billion Defence Capability Plan.

The Hercules are set for a like-forlike replacement – the C130-J – while the Orions will be replaced by four Boeing P-8A Poseidons, capable of hunting submarines.

During a speech at Whenuapai in June, Defence Minister Ron Mark said the upgrades were long overdue.