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Air New Zealand flight returns to Auckland after lightning strike

Otago Daily TimesStuffRNZ1NewsFriday 6 June 2025 · 4 outlets · 3 reports · updated

In this story Air New Zealand

Photo: Otago Daily Times (opens in new tab)

An Air New Zealand flight from Auckland to Queenstown was forced to return to Auckland for engineering checks after being struck by lightning shortly after departure. Passengers reported hearing and seeing a loud bang during the incident. The aircraft returned to Auckland as a precaution.

How they headlined it

First reported by Otago Daily Times, Fri 6 Jun 2025, 8:03pm · 3 reports from 3 outlets over 12 hours
  1. Otago Daily TimesOtago Daily Times

    Queenstown-bound flight struck by lightning (opens in new tab)

  2. StuffStuff via RNZ

    Air New Zealand flight to Queenstown struck by lightning, returns to Auckland for checks (opens in new tab)

    Also on RNZ (opens in new tab)

  3. 1News1News via RNZ

    Air New Zealand flight to Queenstown struck by lightning (opens in new tab)