AUCKLAND— Passengers aboard an Air New Zealand (NZ) flight witnessed a terrifying moment midair on Tuesday morning when the aircraft was struck by lightning shortly after takeoff. The incident occurred around 7 a.m. amid stormy weather conditions sweeping across the upper North Island.
The flight, NZ676, which departed from Auckland bound for Dunedin (DUD), was forced to divert to Christchurch (CHC) after a deafening bang and a flash of fire lit up the cabin, according to eyewitnesses.
Air New Zealand Flight Struck By Lightning
Between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m., meteorologists reported nearly 500 lightning strikes across the region where NZ676 was flying, as a strong frontal band passed over Auckland and Northland, increasing the risk of thunderstorms during the early morning hours.
Passenger Quincy Sio, 35, was quoted in NewsTalkZB and described the event as the most frightening experience of his life. Sio, who was traveling for work with a colleague, said the flight had already been turbulent from the moment it left Auckland Airport.
Rough air buffeted the aircraft continuously before the sudden strike jolted everyone from their seats.
He recalled a “deafening bang” reverberating through the cabin just ten minutes into the flight. As the sound echoed, Sio saw what he described as a large orange “fireball” flash from the left wing of the plane.
Panic spread immediately, with passengers screaming and bracing for impact. Sio added that the explosion left his ears ringing for hours and caused a headache.
Despite the intense noise and visible flash, he said the crew did not make an immediate announcement, leaving passengers anxious as the aircraft continued toward Christchurch instead of returning to Auckland.
Severe weather over the North Island
According to the MetService, 482 lightning strikes were detected over northern New Zealand during the early morning hours.
The storm system brought heavy rainfall, turbulent winds, and widespread thunder activity, prompting an upgraded thunderstorm risk alert for Auckland and Northland.
The weather event coincided almost exactly with the departure time of NZ676, heightening concerns among passengers about flight safety during active storm conditions.
Despite the dramatic strike, Air New Zealand confirmed there were no injuries and that the flight landed safely in Christchurch.
Air New Zealand Chief Operations Officer Alex Marren confirmed that flight NZ676 was struck by lightning and diverted as a precaution:
The aircraft is now undergoing standard engineering checks. As a result, NZ676 Dunedin–Auckland was cancelled. We are reaccommodating customers on alternate services and have added an additional flight from Christchurch to Dunedin to ensure all passengers reach their destination.
Marren emphasized that lightning strikes on aircraft, while alarming, are not uncommon. Modern aircraft are designed to withstand such events, and pilots receive specific training to handle lightning encounters safely.
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Bottom Line
Air New Zealand has since ensured that passengers affected by the diversion have been rebooked or compensated appropriately.
The aircraft remains grounded in Christchurch for inspection as engineers perform comprehensive checks to verify structural integrity and electrical systems before it re-enters service.
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