MetService morning weather update: April 8. Video / MetService
A Fiji Airways flight has had to divert to Tonga after atrocious weather from Tropical Cyclone Vaianu foiled three attempts to land in Nadi.
Fiji Airways says flight FJ914 from Sydney to Nadi was diverted to the Tongan capital of Nuku’alofa “as a precautionary measure due to adverse weather conditionsassociated with a tropical system impacting the region”.
A passenger on board the aircraft with their spouse and children told the ABCthe experience was “pretty dramatic”.
“There were basically people spewing up and down the aisles. Fortunately, my kids were pretty good; they sat there half asleep or they were entertaining themselves,” he said.
Tropical Cyclone Vaianu is expected to hit New Zealand on Sunday. Image / MetService
Another passenger described the attempted landings as “hairy”.
“There was a bit of motion sickness going on up there, which was obviously not ideal,” she said.
“The wind shear was pretty crazy up there, so I’m glad that they made a decision to move on.”
The airline says the decision to divert the aircraft was made in line with the airline’s safety protocols, “ensuring the continued safety of all passengers and crew. Safety remains the highest priority in all Fiji Airways operations, particularly during periods of severe weather”.
The aircraft is expected to continue its journey to Nadi once weather conditions allow.
Jason Strickland, general manager at Tanoa International Dateline Hotel in Nuku’alofa, told the ABCthey were hosting about 80 passengers from flight FJ914.
“They thought their holiday was going to start three times, and then they were off to Tonga,” he said.
“It’s been tough, but we’re organised and everyone’s got food in their stomachs now and a few local beers to calm the nerves.”
Vaianu is about 370km southwest of Kadavu in Fiji, bringing strong winds, heavy rain and flash flood warnings to the island nation.
