Air New Zealand Airbus A321neo Diverts to Auckland After Hard Landing in Wellington

An Air New Zealand Airbus A321neo flight from Brisbane to Wellington was forced to divert to Auckland Airport (AKL) after a hard landing in Wellington (WLG). The incident occurred on September 26, 2024, when the aircraft encountered severe weather conditions during its final approach. Initially mistaken for a tail strike, the landing issues were actually caused by wind shear.

Air New Zealand’s Head of Flight Operations, Captain Hugh Pearce, confirmed that the aircraft, registered ZK-NND, was performing flight NZ272 when the pilots opted for a go-around due to wind shear just before touchdown. Although the plane briefly touched the runway, the pilots aborted the landing, prompting a diversion to Auckland, where the aircraft landed safely.

After the diversion, there were concerns about a potential tail strike, but a thorough inspection confirmed that no tail contact occurred. The airline grounded the five-year-old Airbus A321neo for maintenance checks, and the data has been sent to Airbus for further analysis. The return flight to Brisbane was canceled, and the aircraft remains under review.

Air New Zealand assured passengers that safety is their top priority, and all affected travelers were rebooked on other flights. While rare, the airline emphasized that its crew is trained to handle such situations effectively.