29 Dec 2024

Engineering issue forces Air NZ plane back to Christchurch

9:29 pm on 29 December 2024
Air New Zealand plane taking off from Christchurch airport

An Air New Zealand plane took off from Christchurch on Sunday evening, but had to turn back. (File image) Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Engineering issues have forced an Air New Zealand plane back to the ground in Christchurch on Sunday evening.

A flight tracking website showed the plane - bound for Hamilton - made it as far north as Blenheim before performing a u-turn.

It landed back in Christchurch before 8pm.

The flight returned due to "engineering", an Air New Zealand spokesperson said.

Customers would be booked on the next available flight to Hamilton.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs