Plane circling Tauranga Airport

Concerned members of the public thought a plane was in trouble this afternoon when it was seen circling Tauranga Airport.

A member of the public phoned the Bay of Plenty Times about 5pm and said black smoke and vapours appeared to be coming from the plane.

A spokesperson from the control tower at Tauranga Airport dispelled the thought that a plane was in trouble.

The spokesperson, who would not be named, said it was "pilot training" and there was "nothing wrong with the aircraft".

He said pilot training happened "pretty infrequently".

The aircraft the pilots were training in was a Convair.