(file image) Photo: 123RF
A man has been charged after attempting to escape police by opening a plane's emergency exit door during take-off at Auckland Airport.
Police confirmed a 28-year-old man was apprehended after jumping from the door and landing on the tarmac, injuring himself in the process on Thursday.
He was attempting to escape police custody while onboard the flight, police said.
Court documents seen by RNZ say the man is accused of interfering with the aircraft on a Qatar Airways flight, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of one year of imprisonment.
He will appear in the Manukau District Court on Friday, charged with breaching the Civil Aviation Act.