A security threat disrupted Air New Zealand flight NZ677 from Auckland to Dunedin on Saturday, delaying operations and sparking an intensive investigation.
The Airbus A320 was set to depart at 5:40 PM when a bomb threat was phoned in, prompting the aircraft to return to the gate. Passengers were initially kept onboard before being evacuated row by row.
Police and specialist teams conducted a thorough search of the plane and luggage but found no evidence of a bomb.
David Morgan, Air New Zealand’s operational safety officer, stated, “Passenger safety is our highest priority, even when it causes inconvenience.”
Passengers described the atmosphere as tense, with some fearing the worst. While food and water were eventually provided, delays left many dissatisfied.
Helen Cannan praised staff, saying, “They handled the situation well under challenging circumstances.”
Police confirmed their investigation is ongoing.