An elderly New Zealander was arrested after assaulting a flight attendant in Queenstown.
Police were called to Queenstown Airport following the fracas on a flight to Auckland about 5.10pm yesterday.
A police spokesman said the captain of the flight requested officers attend following the incident during boarding.
"An agitated man pushed a female flight attendant on board a plane,’’ he said.‘‘She stumbled backwards and fell. She was shocked but otherwise uninjured."
A 75-year-old, understood not to reside in Queenstown, was arrested in relation to the incident. He was given a pre-charge warning, the police spokesman said.
The man, a New Zealander, told police that he was "extremely remorseful". The flight was delayed.An Air New Zealand spokeswoman confirmed police were called after a customer assaulted a member of the airline’s cabin crew.
"The incident happened as customers were boarding flight NZ648 to Auckland," she said.
"Customers booked to travel on this service are being reaccomodated on alternative services.
"As the matter is now with police we are not able to comment further."
It was unclear what led to the incident.
