‘Worked around the clock’: Damaged Air NZ jet repaired and back in the air as Australian agency gathers information on airbridge collision

The Boeing 777 was damaged after hitting an airbridge in Brisbane - why it's now in Singapore.

Engineers repair a holed Air NZ Boeing 777 in Auckland as investigators gather information on how it hit an airbridge in Brisbane.

Air NZ engineers have “worked around the clock” to repair a damaged Boeing 777, which received “puncture damage” after hitting an airbridge in Australia.

The aircraft was back in the air last night, on a 10-hour flight from Auckland to Singapore, where it will undergo scheduled maintenance over the next three weeks.

The passenger jet received “puncture damage” - a 7cm hole just below the captain’s window - when it hit an airbridge at Brisbane Airport last Thursday.

The aircraft was being pushed back from its gate, ahead of a flight to Auckland, at the time of the incident.

The plane returned to the gate, and passengers were offloaded and put on later flights.

Air NZ Boeing 777 ZK-OKN was damaged and temporarily grounded after hitting an airbridge at Brisbane Airport. File photo / Wikipedia Commons

The Boeing 777 returned to New Zealand on Sunday, on a low-altitude, unpressurised flight with no passengers or cargo. It flew at about 9000 feet, a quarter of its normal altitude, because of the small hole in the fuselage.

“In good news, our engineers have worked around the clock to repair the aircraft,” said an Air NZ spokeswoman on Wednesday.

“It’s heading to Singapore tonight for its C Check. It will fly as normal – so pressurised."

A C Check typically happens every two years - it is a heavy maintenance inspection that involves the replacement of parts if required.

Flight data shows the Boeing 777 left Auckland at 6.20pm and arrived in Singapore about 12.40am Thursday local time (4.40am NZT).

“Our widebody aircraft go to Singapore to our heavy maintenance partner, ST Engineering, for their regular ‘C Checks’,” said the Air NZ spokeswoman.

“It’s due to be in Singapore for around three weeks while it undergoes this check.”

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said it was “gathering further information on this incident”.

“We don’t have anything more on this at this stage,” said a spokesman.

An Air NZ spokeswoman said earlier that the collision was under investigation. “Liability is yet to be determined.”

NZ Air Line Pilots Association president Andrew McKeen said that the association would assist Air NZ with its investigation.

Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand’s most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME, including Managing Editor, NZ Herald Editor and Herald on Sunday Editor.