A suspected lightning strike has caused an Air Nelson flight to be diverted to Nelson airport today.

Air Nelson flight NZ 8839, operated by Air New Zealand, was traveling from New Plymouth to Christchurch when it was diverted to Nelson due to a suspected lightening strike.

In a statement to NewstalkZB the airline says the diversion was “part of normal operating procedure”. They say a suspected lightning strike is usually indicated either visually by a flash of light or audibly by a noise. “The suspected impact did not cause any airworthiness issues for the aircraft and the safety of passengers was at no time compromised” says the airline.

“Our standard procedure in the event of any suspected lightening strike requires the aircraft to have a routine maintenance inspection by our engineers before returning to service”.

The 44 passengers are being re-accommodated onto other services.

Meanwhile WeatherWatch.co.nz is monitoring two areas of active heavy shower bands, one between Taranaki and South Waikato and the other around Coromandel Peninsula.
 

More details, listen live to NewstalkZB at www.newstalkzb.co.nz