AUCKLAND- An Air New Zealand (NZ) flight from Auckland (AKL) to Wellington (WLG) was forced to return to its departure airport on Thursday (October 16, 2025) after strong winds made landing impossible.
Flight NZ481 completed the full journey to Wellington but circled the airport several times before turning back, landing in Auckland close to 5 p.m.—nearly two hours after departure.
Photo: Mertle | Wikimedia Commons
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Air_New_Zealand_Airbus_A320-200.jpg
Air New Zealand Pilot Failed to Land
Flight NZ481 took off from Auckland at 3 p.m. and was scheduled to land in Wellington around 4:10 p.m.
According to FlightRadar24 data, the aircraft approached the capital but could not complete its landing due to high crosswinds affecting the runway. The crew made several attempts before deciding to return north for safety reasons, Stuff NZ reported.
Air New Zealand’s Chief Operations Officer, Alex Marren, confirmed that strong winds were the sole factor behind the flight’s diversion. She added that passengers were rebooked on the next available service and thanked them for their patience.
No other Air New Zealand flights were disrupted by weather conditions on Thursday, indicating that the gusts affected only a short window during NZ481’s arrival.
Following standard procedure, all passengers were reaccommodated on later flights. The airline maintained communication throughout the delay, ensuring affected travelers could continue their journeys the same day.
Operationally, Air New Zealand monitors weather at Wellington Airport closely, given the airport’s reputation for gusty conditions. Aircraft attempting to land there often face challenging crosswinds, particularly during the spring months.
Following standard procedure, all passengers were reaccommodated on later flights. The airline maintained communication throughout the delay, ensuring affected travelers could continue their journeys the same day.
Operationally, Air New Zealand monitors weather at Wellington Airport closely, given the airport’s reputation for gusty conditions. Aircraft attempting to land there often face challenging crosswinds, particularly during the spring months.
Photo: G B_NZ | Wikimedia Commons
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Air_New_Zealand_A320_ZK-OJC_at_AKL_(27804562754).jpg
Similar Incident
An Air New Zealand (NZ) flight from Auckland (AKL) to Dunedin (DUD) was forced to return to its departure point on September 13, 2025, after two failed landing attempts caused by severe windshear.
The airline confirmed that flight NZ676 was diverted for safety reasons, with passengers later rebooked on alternative services.
Air New Zealand’s Chief Operating Officer, Alex Marren, said the Airbus A320-232, registered as ZK-OXM, made two approach attempts into Dunedin Airport (DUD) but was unable to land safely due to unstable air conditions.
Wind gusts reached up to 78 km/h, creating significant windshear near the runway—one of the most hazardous conditions for aircraft during approach and landing.
Marren stated that safety was the only consideration in deciding to return to Auckland (AKL). “Our pilots followed all procedures, and the decision to divert was the right one,” she said, adding that the airline apologized for the disruption caused to travelers.
Among those onboard was broadcaster Matty McLean, who had been en route to participate in the Dunedin Marathon. McLean described the aborted landings as “pretty scary,” noting that during the second attempt, the aircraft descended almost to the runway before the pilots initiated a go-around.
Footage shared on social media showed the plane swaying during descent. Passengers initially cheered as it appeared ready to touch down, only for the aircraft to climb steeply moments later. Despite the tension, McLean praised the professionalism and calm of the flight crew.
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