A WOMAN passenger on a commuter plane has been charged with hijacking after she allegedly stabbed both pilots and threatened to blow up the 19-seat aircraft.
 

The pilots were attacked about 20 minutes into the Air New Zealand flight between the South Island cities of Blenheim and Christchurch by a woman armed with a knife who demanded to be flown to Australia, police said in a statement.

Neither pilot was seriously hurt and they were able to land the plane safely.

Their assailant tried to tamper with the controls of the plane as it was coming in to land at Christchurch and was only disarmed when the plane hit turbulence, police said.

Police with dogs boarded the plane and arrested a 33-year-old woman, who is originally from Somalia. She was later charged with hijacking and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and was due to appear in court in Christchurch on Saturday.

The plane was left on the runway while a bomb squad was called in, but no bomb was found aboard, Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Dave Cliff said.

The two pilots were taken to Christchurch hospital but their wounds were not life-threatening. One passenger and the woman arrested were treated for minor cuts.