Passengers were told to leave their personal belongings behind and disembark while the plane was searched

Passengers on a plane bound for Christchurch were detained upon landing, and the aircraft quarantined, after a bomb threat was made about a specific seat.

Police, who later ruled the episode as a hoax, were alerted to the threat at 2.30pm on Saturday and isolated and evacuated the plane when it landed at 3.08pm.

Passenger Ewan Sargent said the plane stayed on the runway. Passengers were told there was a problem and "we would need to leave the problem", he said. They were told to leave their hand luggage on board, disembark and walk to a site about 100 metres away.

EWAN SARGENT/FAIRFAX NZ Police said a "specific threat" had been made against a seat number on the flight.

They then boarded a bus, and were checked by a police dog, he said.

"We've just a had a briefing where a policeman said there had been a specific threat against that flight and against a specific seat on the plane so they had to take everyone off.

"They're searching all the luggage to check that it's just a false [alarm]."

EWAN SARGENT/FAIRFAX NZ Passengers on a flight from Palmerston North to Christchurch were searched by police dogs after a bomb threat was made against the plane.

Passengers were in quarantine while the search was completed, Sargent said. They were released shortly before 5pm.

"A policeman said [the] threat had been made by someone who had given their name but it would undoubtedly be fictitious."

An Air New Zealand spokeswoman confirmed flight NZ5349 from Palmerston North to Christchurch was met by police on arrival, following a threat made to the airline's call centre.

Passengers and crew were evacuated onto the tarmac at Christchurch Airport as a precautionary measure, she said.

The matter was now with the police.

"Working with Aviation Security, police searched the plane, passengers and luggage and found no evidence of an explosive," police said in a statement several hours later.

"Police appreciate how distressing the situation may have been for passengers and would like to thank them for their co-operation.

"Officers are now continuing their investigation to establish the source of the threat."

On Sunday, police refused to comment further on the incident.