Warbird Information Exchange

A vintage Russian military jet crashed off the runway at North Shore Aerodrome north of Auckland last night after its brakes failed. Fire Service northern communications centre shift manager Jaron Phillips said the accident happened about 5.30pm.

The pilot, understood to be alone on the two-seater L29 jet, was not hurt.

Mr Phillips said a large number of firefighters attended the scene and applied foam as a precaution. Police also arrived and the Civil Aviation Authority was investigating. North Shore Aerodrome is on Postman Rd in Dairy Flat, about 20 minutes drive north of Auckland's central business district.

Postman Road had been closed, police said.

Services available at the airfield included flight training, scenic flights and plane maintenance. Staff at the airfield, which is run by the North Shore Aero Club, declined to comment on the crash last night.