New Zealand pilots land on a wing and a prayer

Two Blenheim men who ran out of fuel high above the Marlborough Sounds are thanking divine intervention for getting them down safely - right next to a six-metre sign proclaiming "Jesus is Lord".

Grant Stubbs said pilot Owen Wilson told him to pray as they desperately tried tofind a place to land that was not sea or steep hillside when the engine on their aircraft cut out.

Mr Stubbs said he asked God to get them over the ridge and find somewhere to land.



"We managed to splutter and cough up this steep slope before the motor cut out completely.

"We were probably at 1500 feet and had to find somewhere to land. It was water and steep slopes. We were desperately looking around and came to this tiny little bay. Behind us he spotted little grassy area."

In what Mr Stubbs called a very fine piece of gliding with no engine, Mr Wilson was able to land the plane. After straightening the plane up, the men noticed they were beside a massive sign. Mr Stubbs estimated it was six metres high. On it was written "Jesus is Lord - The Bible". "When we saw that we started laughing," Mr Stubbs said.