Kim Dotcom dashes to Sir Paul Holmes

Internet mogul Kim Dotcom's helicopter made an emergency landing as he flew to Hawke's Bay yesterday to meet ailing broadcaster Sir Paul Holmes.

Mr Dotcom tweeted a photo of himself posing with Sir Paul with the chopper in the background, accompanied by the words "almost died to meet the knight".

The image attracted more than 150 likes and several comments, including one from someone who didn't know what a knight was.

The helicopter landed on a forestry road after the pilot identified a problem with the fuel gauge.

He tweeted about his predicament throughout the afternoon.

His first tweet invited followers to see the Mega chopper at the New Zealand airshow.

He also posted a picture of himself smiling in the airborne chopper. Shortly afterwards, however, Mr Dotcom wrote about an emergency landing.

"No kidding. Emergency landing in the middle of nowhere ... pilot trying to identify the fault.

"I have 1 bar of reception. Start rationing water."

He said the fuel had dropped to zero and a rotor warning was given. The pilot found a disconnected wire and was able to get the fuel gauge working again, Mr Dotcom wrote.

After a test run, the group continued their flight, about 2.45pm. He posted a picture of the pilot and wrote "Hero!!!"

Mr Dotcom was one of Sir Paul's final interviews as host of TV One's Q+A programme which screened in November last year.

Sir Paul - who has survived a fatal chopper crash - is at his Hawke's Bay home, Mana Lodge, after spending time in hospital last week.

His wife Lady Deborah and his brother Ken Holmes said in a statement that members of the veteran broadcaster's family remained by his side.

Sir Paul was knighted at his home earlier this month, in a ceremony brought forward at his family's request because of his failing health.

APNZ