New Zealand to investigate Air NZ Boeing 777 loss of control at AKL

New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has begun an investigation into an incident where an Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300ER, registered as ZK-OKN, lost control on the ground at Auckland Airport (AKL).

The aircraft, which landed at AKL on Air NZ’s scheduled flight NZ124 from Melbourne Airport (MEL), Australia, briefly lost directional control and veered away from the runway’s centerline. The line identifies the center of the runway and provides alignment guidance during take-off and landings for pilots.

According to New Zealand investigators, the pilot successfully regained control of the aircraft, completed the landing and taxied the widebody jet to its designated terminal.

Air New Zealand’s Boeing 777-300ER was landing at AKL during difficult weather, with gusts of wind and heavy rain flooding the airport’s facilities. Auckland saw an estimated 9.8 inches of rainfall, equal to an entire summer’s worth of rain.

After being closed on January 27, 2023, AKL resumed operations on January 28, 2023, with international flights beginning to land the following day.

“There was damage reported to six runway edge lights and to the aircraft’s undercarriage assembly, including deflation of one tire,” stated Naveen Kozhuppakalam, the Chief Investigators of Accidents at the TAIC. According to Kozhuppakalam, no injuries were reported, with the chief adding that the investigation team will interview the flight crew, Air Traffic Control (ATC), other staff, and witnesses.

“They will also inspect the aircraft and runway systems, examining the site of the incident, obtaining any electronic recorded data and records,” he added.

The Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300ER has since been in AKL, with its flight to MEL, scheduled on January 29, 2023, being canceled, according to flightradar24.com data.