Flights bound for Auckland are running normally now after an earlier issue resulted in flights being diverted. Photo / Michael Craig
Flights bound for Auckland are running normally now after an earlier issue resulted in flights being diverted. Photo / Michael Craig
Flights bound for Auckland are running normally after an earlier issue involving an Air New Zealand aircraft led to several flights being diverted.
Passengers travelling to Auckland found themselves stuck on the tarmac for hours after an aircraft about to take off was identified as having a technical issue.
AirNew Zealand said the aircraft for an Auckland to Hong Kong flight (NZ81) suffered an issue with its braking system when it was positioned for take-off at the end of the runway.
Air NZ chief risk and safety officer Nathan McGraw said: “The aircraft is currently being assessed by our engineers to ensure its safe removal from the runway.
“We apologise for the disruption and are working to get customers to their destinations as soon as possible.”
An airport spokesman said the issue was related to an aircraft that was taxiing on the airfield before it encountered a mechanical issue.
“The aircraft is now undergoing engineering checks and flight operations are returning to normal.”
The Auckland to Hong Kong flight eventually left for its destination about 2.30pm.
Passengers given chips while waiting on tarmac
Several flights bound for Auckland had to be diverted to Hamilton, where passengers waited for up to two hours on the tarmac. Photo / File
Some flights were diverted to Hamilton. Among those was NZ614 from Queenstown, which was due to arrive in Auckland at 11.10am.
A passenger on board that flight said an announcement was made about 10 minutes before they were to arrive in Auckland that the plane would be going into a holding pattern as the aircraft was unable to land.
“After circling the Hauraki Gulf for around half an hour, we were told we were low on fuel and are being re-routed to Hamilton.”
On arrival, all passengers had to stay onboard. She said two Jetstar aircraft were in front of them by that time and another Air NZ flight from Dunedin was behind them, at that point.
“We were grounded on the tarmac in Hamilton for the next two hours,” the woman said.
“Passengers queued for toilets. Then basins ran out of tap water. Hand sanitiser was provided. Crew handed out packets of chippies, but no other refreshments.”
After being cleared to leave Hamilton, their plane touched down in Auckland at 1.30pm, she said.
Passengers travelling out of the city this morning told NZME they could see an Air NZ plane stuck on the runway.
“No planes coming or going – it’s a cluster out there,” one man said.
