A man has died despite the efforts of a nurse and cabin crew on a Qantas plane bound for Melbourne yesterday morning.
Flight QF152 left Auckland at 6:10am but was forced to turn back 30 minutes later after the passenger had a heart attack.
A Qantas spokesman confirmed the man had died by the time the plane landed and paramedics met the craft.
He said a nurse and the cabin crew worked to resuscitate the man but were unable to.
The spokesman couldn't confirm the man's age.
The plane, carrying 174 passengers, was delayed for about an hour and a half, as it was refuelled before taking off again for Melbourne.