AUCKLAND- On Thursday (September 26, 2024), an Air New Zealand (NZ) Airbus A321-200N encountered a landing incident at Wellington Airport (WLG) as flight NZ272 from Brisbane (BNE) aborted its landing due to wind shear, executing a go-around maneuver.
The aircraft’s main wheels briefly touched the runway during this procedure.
Air New Zealand Flight Incident
The plane diverted to Auckland (AKL) for maintenance checks. Air New Zealand’s head of flight operations, Captain Hugh Pearce, confirmed this incident with Stuff and said the wind shear occurred moments before touchdown. He stated that the crew followed standard protocol by initiating a go-around.
Video footage appeared to show the plane’s tail striking the runway. However, an Air NZ spokesperson later clarified that a post-incident inspection revealed no tail contact.
Air New Zealand sent aircraft data to Airbus for analysis to determine if additional maintenance was required. As a precautionary measure, the plane’s scheduled flight for Friday was canceled.
The incident coincided with severe weather conditions in Wellington. MetService issued a strong wind watch on Thursday afternoon, with wind speeds exceeding 100kph recorded. These conditions led to numerous flight cancellations.
Captain Pearce emphasized that passenger and crew safety remains the airline’s top priority. He acknowledged the rarity of such incidents but assured that crews undergo rigorous training to handle these situations effectively.
Similar Incident
Air New Zealand flight NZ946 encountered similar challenges on Monday, July 29, during its landing attempt at Rarotonga International Airport (RAR). The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, departing Auckland International Airport (AKL) at 9 am, failed to land twice due to severe crosswinds.
The aircraft, scheduled to arrive in Rarotonga at 2:40 pm local time, nearly completed its 3,005km journey before facing unsafe landing conditions. Passengers reported initial plans to divert to Samoa, but the flight crew ultimately decided to return to Auckland.
An Air New Zealand spokesperson confirmed the incident to the New Zealand Herald, citing crosswinds as the primary reason for the aborted landings. This event underscores the unpredictable nature of air travel and the critical importance of safety in aviation decision-making.
The typically 3-hour-and-50-minute flight was extended significantly due to these unforeseen circumstances. Passengers experienced the unusual occurrence of crossing the international dateline twice in one day.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner involved in the incident, registered as ZK-NZL, is 6.9 years old and powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. Airlines consider multiple factors when deciding to continue, divert, or return a flight during weather disruptions.
While diversion to another airport is common in such situations, Air New Zealand chose to return to Auckland. This decision likely stemmed from limited alternative landing options in the region, prioritizing passenger safety over completing the journey.
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