AUCKLAND- Flag carrier of New Zealand, Air New Zealand (NZ) flight from Wellington International Airport (WLG) to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) diverted to Auckland Airport (AKL) Today on December 1, 2024.
The Auckland-based carrier operates daily flights between Wellington and Sydney using the Airbus A320 fleet.
Air New Zealand Flight Diverted
An Air New Zealand flight scheduled from Wellington to Sydney underwent an unexpected route change today, diverting to Auckland shortly after departure.
The aircraft, which left Wellington just before 3 pm, abruptly altered its flight path as tracked by Flight Radar, signaling a potential operational issue.
Flight tracking data revealed a sharp deviation from the original route, prompting immediate questions about the reason behind the unscheduled landing. Currently, the precise nature of the flight’s redirection remains unconfirmed, with speculation ranging from potential engine complications to other operational challenges.
According to FlightRadar24 data, an Air NZ flight took off from Wellington at 2:52 AM UTC. After being airborne for around 40 minutes, the flight diverted to Auckland.
It landed safely at 4:28 AM UTC at Sydney Airport. The flight was operated by Airbus A320neo, registered as ZK-NHA. Further, it is a 5.8-year-old aircraft.
Similar Diversions
An Air New Zealand flight from Wellington to Queenstown was forced to return to its origin after encountering severe wind shear that compromised landing safety. Flight NZ607 experienced extreme meteorological conditions that rendered a Queenstown Airport touchdown impossible.
FlightRadar24 tracking revealed the aircraft’s complex navigation pattern, which included an initial approach from the east and an attempted landing along Lake Wakatipu before ultimately returning to Wellington. The standard 55-minute flight route was critically disrupted by unpredictable and dangerous wind conditions.
Air New Zealand’s chief operating officer, Alex Marren, confirmed the flight’s diversion to NZ Herald, emphasizing passenger safety as the paramount concern. The airline committed to re-accommodating affected passengers on subsequent available services.
The aircraft involved in the incident is an 11-year-old Airbus A320-200, registered as ZK-OXC and powered by IAE V2500 engines.
On Thursday, September 26, 2024, Air New Zealand Flight NZ272 from Brisbane encountered significant wind shear during its approach to Wellington Airport, forcing pilots to execute a critical go-around maneuver. The Airbus A321-200N briefly touched its main wheels on the runway before aborting the landing attempt.
Captain Hugh Pearce, Air New Zealand’s head of flight operations, confirmed the incident to Stuff, explaining that wind shear occurred moments before touchdown. The flight crew followed standard aviation protocols by initiating the go-around procedure to ensure passenger safety.
Initial video footage suggested potential runway tail contact, but a subsequent post-incident inspection by Air New Zealand definitively cleared the aircraft of any damage. As a precautionary measure, the airline dispatched aircraft data to Airbus for comprehensive technical analysis to assess potential maintenance requirements.
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