Air New Zealand Auckland to Gisborne flight NZ5171 diverted for safety checks

Air New Zealand Flight NZ5171 has returned to Auckland after crew were alerted to a warning the aircraft may have a hydraulic issue. Photo / Flightradar24

An Air New Zealand flight to Gisborne has returned to Auckland for safety checks after a mid-flight system indication.

After departing Auckland at 4.35pm, Flight NZ5171 was diverted back to Auckland Airport more than halfway through the hour and ten-minute journey.

The flight, which touched back down in Auckland at 6.17pm, is currently the most tracked worldwide on Flightradar24.

Air New Zealand Chief Risk and Safety Officer, Nathan McGraw said the passenger plane had been turned around after a system indication of a hydraulic issue.

“The aircraft landed safely, with emergency services on standby as a precaution.”

McGraw said the airlines engineers were currently inspecting the De Havilland Camada Dash 8-300 before it is returned to service.

“We apologise for the disruption and are working to get affected customers to their destinations as soon as possible. We thank them for their patience and understanding.”

A spokesperson for Auckland Airport said there had been no other impacts to arrivals and departures at both the international and domestic terminals.

Earlier today, flights into Auckland were disrupted by an Air New Zealand aircraft departing for Hong Kong after it suffered a braking issue when preparing for take-off.

Several flights were diverted as a result of the issue, with McGraw stating the airline was working to get customers to their destinations “as soon as possible”.