Air New Zealand A320neo Diverts to Auckland After Engine Issue

An Air New Zealand Airbus A320neo was forced to divert to Auckland on December 1, 2024, following an in-flight engine issue. The Airbus A320-271N, registered ZK-NHA, was operating flight NZ249, a scheduled service between Wellington (WLG) and Sydney (SYD), when the incident occurred.

The flight, which took off from Wellington at 2:30 a.m. (UTC), was expected to land in Sydney around 3 hours and 40 minutes later. However, shortly after departure, the aircraft deviated from its course, and about an hour into the flight, a technical engine problem arose. The crew subsequently shut down one of the engines and initiated a diversion to Auckland (AKL).

In a statement to Reuters, Hugh Pearce, Air New Zealand’s head of flight operations, explained that the aircraft followed standard procedures, and the engine was shut down before the diversion. “The aircraft landed safely in Auckland just after 5:20 p.m. (local time). The matter will now be investigated, and customers will be rebooked on the next available service,” Pearce added.

The aircraft touched down safely at 4:37 a.m. (UTC), and subsequent flights were canceled. Thankfully, there were no injuries reported, and the airline emphasized the safety of its passengers and crew.

This incident is part of an ongoing challenge for Air New Zealand, which has been dealing with recurring issues related to its Pratt & Whitney GTF (Geared Turbofan) engines, powering its Airbus A320neo and A321neo models. These persistent engine problems are expected to impact the airline’s financial outlook, with Air New Zealand already forecasting lower earnings for the first half of the 2025 financial year.

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