A Perth bound Air New Zealand Boeing 767-300ER has returned to Auckland following “a problem” with the aircraft’s “left hand engine shortly after takeoff” at 2.35pm this afternoon (June 9).
The 767, operating flight NZ175, subsequently landed at Auckland Airport by 2.52pm and taxied to the gate without further incident.
“The incident occurred just after takeoff at 1800ft, with bird strike a possibility, and the captain elected to shut down the left hand engine,” Air New Zealand says in a statement. “The captain briefed the 206 passengers onboard, including explaining that any flame seen from the engine is not unusual when it is shut down in flight.”
Engineers have begun an immediate inspection of the problem engine, with no signs of visible damage reported.
