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RNZ News
25-05-2025
- RNZ News
Air NZ plane with hole in fuselage flies back to Auckland from Australia with no passengers
The plane (not pictured) was already scheduled for routine maintenance in Singapore this week. Photo: Supplied / Air NZ An Air New Zealand plane suffering a hole in the fuselage after hitting an airbridge flew back to Auckland at low altitude on Sunday. An airline spokesperson said the collision happened at Brisbane Airport on Thursday as the Boeing 777 pushed back from the gate. The resulting 7cm wide puncture the aircraft skin below the captain's window required a full inspection by engineers and cancelling the NZ146 flight to Auckland, they said. The aircraft was expected to return to New Zealand for repairs on Sunday at a height of around 10,000 feet - a third of its usual flying altitude - with a depressurised cabin and no passengers. It arrived at Auckland Airport about 6.30pm. Air New Zealand chief safety and risk officer Nathan McGraw said the low-level flight was not unusual, given the scenario. "Our engineering team has consulted with Boeing on the appropriate repair approach. The aircraft remains in Brisbane and is planned to return to Auckland [on Sunday] for the repairs to be carried out by our engineering and maintenance team. "The aircraft will operate unpressurised, with no passengers or cargo onboard, at a lower cruise altitude." He said because the plane was already scheduled for routine maintenance in Singapore this week, there was no disruption to the overall Air New Zealand schedule. An airline spokesperson said all passengers on the original flight from Brisbane on Thursday were rebooked to travel within 24 hours. * This story has been updated to clarify the hole is in the fuselage of the plane, to avoid any confusion. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
1News
25-05-2025
- 1News
Watch: Air NZ plane damaged in Brisbane departs for Auckland
A damaged Air New Zealand plane will fly at a lower altitude while it returns to Auckland this evening after it hit an airbridge at Brisbane Airport. The Boeing 777 will return without being pressurised and at around 10,000ft after suffering puncture damage while pushing back from its gate on Thursday. The plane's service to Auckland had to be cancelled as a result, with a full inspection undertaken by a ground engineering team. "We sincerely apologise for the disruption and appreciate the patience of our customers as we work to rebook them on the next available flights," Air New Zealand chief operating officer Alex Marren said on Thursday. The airline told 1News today there had been puncture damage to a "very small section" of the aircraft's skin. The puncture was around 7cm wide and below the captain's window. There was no further damage to the aircraft. It was expected to fly at around 10,000ft, "although that is subject to change based on flying conditions." Air New Zealand chief safety and risk officer Nathan McGraw said the engineering team consulted with Boeing on the appropriate repair approach. "The aircraft remains in Brisbane and is planned to return to Auckland today for the repairs to be carried out by our engineering and maintenance team. "The aircraft will operate unpressurised, with no passengers or cargo onboard, at a lower cruise altitude, which is not unusual in these scenarios." McGraw said the aircraft was already scheduled to travel to Singapore as part of routine maintenance. "Once repairs are completed in Auckland, the aircraft will continue to Singapore next Wednesday as originally planned for scheduled maintenance. "Because this ground time was planned, the additional repairs will not affect the overall schedule or impact any customer travel plans."
1News
25-05-2025
- 1News
Air NZ plane to fly home at lower altitude after damage in Brisbane
A damaged Air New Zealand plane will fly at a lower altitude while it returns to Auckland later today after it hit an airbridge at Brisbane Airport. The Boeing 777 will return without being pressurised and at around 10,000ft after suffering puncture damage while pushing back from its gate on Thursday. The plane's service to Auckland had to be cancelled as a result, with a full inspection undertaken by a ground engineering team. "We sincerely apologise for the disruption and appreciate the patience of our customers as we work to rebook them on the next available flights," Air New Zealand chief operating officer Alex Marren said on Thursday. The airline told 1News today there had been puncture damage to a "very small section" of the aircraft's skin. The puncture was around 7cm wide and below the captain's window. There was no further damage to the aircraft. It was expected to fly at around 10,000ft, "although that is subject to change based on flying conditions." Air New Zealand chief safety and risk officer Nathan McGraw said the engineering team consulted with Boeing on the appropriate repair approach. "The aircraft remains in Brisbane and is planned to return to Auckland today for the repairs to be carried out by our engineering and maintenance team. "The aircraft will operate unpressurised, with no passengers or cargo onboard, at a lower cruise altitude, which is not unusual in these scenarios." McGraw said the aircraft was already scheduled to travel to Singapore as part of routine maintenance. "Once repairs are completed in Auckland, the aircraft will continue to Singapore next Wednesday as originally planned for scheduled maintenance. "Because this ground time was planned, the additional repairs will not affect the overall schedule or impact any customer travel plans."
RNZ News
24-05-2025
- RNZ News
Air NZ plane with hole in fuselage will fly back to Auckland from Australia with no passengers
The plane (not pictured) was already scheduled for routine maintenance in Singapore this week. Photo: Supplied / Air NZ An Air New Zealand plane suffering a hole in the fuselage after hitting an airbridge is due to fly back to Auckland at low altitude on Sunday. An airline spokesperson said the collision happened at Brisbane Airport on Thursday as the Boeing 777 pushed back from the gate. The resulting 7cm wide puncture the aircraft skin below the captain's window required a full inspection by engineers and cancelling the NZ146 flight to Auckland, they said. The aircraft was expected to return to New Zealand for repairs on Sunday at a height of around 10,000 feet - a third of its usual flying altitude - with a depressurised cabin and no passengers. Air New Zealand chief safety and risk officer Nathan McGraw said the low-level flight was not unusual, given the scenario. "Our engineering team has consulted with Boeing on the appropriate repair approach. The aircraft remains in Brisbane and is planned to return to Auckland [on Sunday] for the repairs to be carried out by our engineering and maintenance team. "The aircraft will operate unpressurised, with no passengers or cargo onboard, at a lower cruise altitude." He said because the plane was already scheduled for routine maintenance in Singapore this week, there was no disruption to the overall Air New Zealand schedule. An airline spokesperson said all passengers on the original flight from Brisbane on Thursday were rebooked to travel within 24 hours. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
24-05-2025
- RNZ News
Air NZ plane with hole in cockpit will fly back to Auckland from Australia with no passengers
The plane (not pictured) was already scheduled for routine maintenance in Singapore this week. Photo: Supplied / Air NZ An Air New Zealand plane suffering a hole in the cockpit after hitting an airbridge is due to fly back to Auckland at low altitude on Sunday. An airline spokesperson said the collision happened at Brisbane Airport on Thursday as the Boeing 777 pushed back from the gate. The resulting 7cm wide puncture below the captain's window required a full inspection by engineers and cancelling the NZ146 flight to Auckland, they said. The aircraft was expected to return to New Zealand for repairs on Sunday at a height of around 10,000 feet - a third of its usual flying altitude - with a depressurised cabin and no passengers. Air New Zealand chief safety and risk officer Nathan McGraw said the low-level flight was not unusual, given the scenario. "Our engineering team has consulted with Boeing on the appropriate repair approach. The aircraft remains in Brisbane and is planned to return to Auckland [on Sunday] for the repairs to be carried out by our engineering and maintenance team. "The aircraft will operate unpressurised, with no passengers or cargo onboard, at a lower cruise altitude." He said because the plane was already scheduled for routine maintenance in Singapore this week, there was no disruption to the overall Air New Zealand schedule. An airline spokesperson said all passengers on the original flight from Brisbane on Thursday were rebooked to travel within 24 hours. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
