Home » AIRLINE NEWS » Air New Zealand Airbus A320 Faces Powerful Windshear Forcing Diversion Back to Auckland After Two Failed Landing Attempts at Dunedin Airport September 2025
Published on
September 15, 2025
On September 13, 2025, an Air New Zealand Airbus A320, operating as flight NZ676 from Auckland to Dunedin, aborted its approach to Dunedin and prudently diverted back to Auckland following two unsuccessful landing attempts. A critical evaluation had confirmed severe windshear-induced aerodynamic risk, with instantaneous gusts recorded at 78 km/h, resulting in an operating environment that exceeded prescribed limits on stabilised approach criteria. Notwithstanding aircrew discipline and situational awareness, adherence to established safety protocols dictated an immediate re-route. After the two approaches, the pilots executed the missed approach manoeuvre and proceeded to Auckland, safeguarding the operational integrity of the flight. that windshear forces and associated turbulence forced an immediate reconsideration of the landing plan, thereby demonstrating the airline’s unwavering commitment to safety as the first and paramount operational priority.
An Air New Zealand flight operating from Auckland to Dunedin on Saturday, 13 September 2025, was forced to turn back after two aborted landing attempts due to severe windshear conditions. The disruption highlighted the growing challenges of flying into New Zealand’s southern airports during periods of unpredictable weather, especially when strong gusts sweep across the Otago region.
Aborted Approaches at Dunedin Airport
The scheduled flight, operating under the number NZ676, was originally bound for Dunedin but was unable to complete its landing despite two separate approaches. The aircraft, an Airbus A320-232, encountered powerful winds gusting up to seventy-eight kilometres per hour, creating unstable conditions near the runway. Both landing attempts were abandoned as safety considerations took priority.
Air New Zealand later confirmed that the decision to return to Auckland was taken solely on safety grounds. Windshear, a sudden and severe change in wind direction and speed, is widely regarded in the aviation industry as one of the most hazardous weather phenomena during approach and landing phases. The return ensured that passengers and crew remained safe, despite the significant disruption to travel plans.
Safety Procedures and Operational Response
The aircraft, which is just under nine years old and registered as ZK-OXM, was operated under standard safety protocols. In situations where windshear is detected, pilots are trained to initiate a go-around rather than attempt to complete a landing. The measures taken at Dunedin reflected these internationally recognised practices.
Following the return to Auckland, passengers were re-accommodated on later services bound for Dunedin. The airline extended apologies for the inconvenience, stressing that passenger safety remains its highest priority. The diversion was described as a precautionary measure that ultimately demonstrated the importance of strict adherence to safety protocols in challenging operating environments.
Impact of Weather on Regional Travel
Saturday’s conditions were particularly gusty across the wider Otago region, with meteorological reports confirming peak winds of seventy-eight kilometres per hour at Dunedin Airport. Such conditions frequently cause operational challenges for airlines, leading to delays, diversions, and in some cases, cancellations.
Other flights arriving into the region also faced disruptions, with adjustments made to schedules to accommodate the extreme crosswinds. By Sunday, forecasts indicated calmer conditions with more stable winds, allowing a resumption of normal operations at the airport.
Wider Aviation Context
Dunedin Airport is known for its weather-related challenges, particularly during the spring months when strong winds can be intensified by the surrounding terrain. Pilots operating into the airport undergo specific training to manage such conditions, but when windshear is encountered, no risks are taken. The recent incident underlined how even modern aircraft and experienced crews remain at the mercy of natural forces that dictate operational outcomes.
The Airbus A320 family, frequently used for domestic routes across New Zealand, is designed with advanced avionics to support pilots in adverse conditions. Nonetheless, weather phenomena such as windshear remain complex, and the safest course of action in such cases is always avoidance. The double go-around followed by a return flight to Auckland served as an example of these principles being applied in real time.
Travel Disruption and Passenger Experience
For passengers, the experience of two aborted landings and a return to Auckland created unavoidable travel delays and disruption to weekend plans. Many travellers were booked onward for local events in Dunedin, and the diversion resulted in missed schedules. While disappointment was widespread, passengers were rebooked onto later services to ensure that onward travel could still take place once conditions improved.
Airlines regularly face operational challenges when weather intervenes, particularly in regions where seasonal variations create sudden changes in wind patterns. New Zealand’s South Island airports, including Dunedin, Queenstown, and Invercargill, are often subject to such disruptions due to their geographic positioning and exposure to coastal and mountainous weather systems.
Looking Ahead for Dunedin Travel
As Dunedin continues to welcome travellers for business, leisure, and regional events, weather will remain an operational factor that airlines and passengers must account for. Aviation experts consistently emphasise that while disruptions can cause inconvenience, safety-driven decisions such as Saturday’s diversion ensure the continued trust of passengers in national carriers.
An Air New Zealand A320 had to circle back to Auckland last night when gusting winds and changing altitudes made two approaches to Dunedin too risky for comfort. Radar and cockpit analysis both pointed the same way: the windshear was unpredictable. Flight crews decided safety was worth the extra hour, and the passengers checked and braced accordingly.
Forecasters now say the region is set to see lighter breezes and steady high pressure, allowing normal arrivals and departures to resume at Dunedin from early tomorrow. Air New Zealand stressed once again that operational patterns change daily and a prudent diversion is always a safer pick than pushing ahead at a risky moment.
