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Gallery: What the NZ air crew saw at Tonga’s Nomuka – a choking carpet of volcanic ash

Asia Pacific Report newsdesk

An RNZAF P-3K2 Orion aircraft flies over the small Tongan island of Nomuka showing the heavy ash fall from last Saturday’s volcanic eruption on Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai.

Five Squadron crew worked on board while flying overhead to gather vital information to send back to New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and other government agencies.

Images: Taken on board the Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion on Monday 17 January 2022/Licensed under Creative Commons BY-4.0

RNZDF Orion surveillance flight images
1 of 10
A P-3K2 Orion aircraft flies over Nomuka island
TONGA 1: A P-3K2 Orion aircraft flies over Nomuka island in the Ha’apai group of the kingdom of Tonga. Image: RNZDF
TONGA 2: A P-3K2 Orion aircraft flies over Nomuka island in the Ha’apai group of the kingdom of Tonga. Image: RNZDF
TONGA 3: A P-3K2 Orion aircraft flies over Nomuka island in the Ha’apai group of the kingdom of Tonga. Image: RNZDF
TONGA 4: In the cockpit of a P-3K2 Orion aircraft flying over the kingdom of Tonga. Image: RNZDF
TONGA 5: In the cockpit of a P-3K2 Orion aircraft flying over the kingdom of Tonga. Image: RNZDF
TONGA 6: Taking photographs in the cockpit of a P-3K2 Orion aircraft flying over the kingdom of Tonga. Image: RNZDF
TONGA 7: Gathering vital data and information about the extent of the volcano and tsunami damage in the kingdom of Tonga. Image: RNZDF
TONGA 8: Gathering vital data and information about the extent of the volcano and tsunami damage in the kingdom of Tonga. Image: RNZDF
TONGA 9: Gathering vital data and information about the extent of the volcano and tsunam damage in the kingdom of Tonga. Image: RNZDF
TONGA 10: Captain SQNLDR Marcus Hogan briefs the aircrew on board the P-3K2 Orion aircraft prior to departing for Tonga. Image: RNZDF

This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.