The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) of New Zealand has opened an investigation into an incident involving an Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300ER that lost control while in the air at Auckland Airport and was registered as ZK-OKN (AKL).
The aircraft briefly lost directional control and went off the runway’s centerline when it landed at AKL on Air NZ’s scheduled flight NZ124 from Melbourne Airport (MEL), Australia.
The pilot successfully regained control of the aircraft, made the landing, and taxied the widebody jet to its intended terminal, according to New Zealand investigators.
Adverse weather, including wind gusts and heavy rain, made it difficult for Air New Zealand’s Boeing 777-300ER to land at AKL.
“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.
On January 28, 2023, AKL resumed operations after being shut down on January 27, 2023, and foreign aircraft started to land the next day.
“They will also inspect the aircraft and runway systems, examining the site of the incident, obtaining any electronic recorded data and records,” he added.
According to information from flightradar24.com, the Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300ER has since been in AKL and its scheduled flight to MEL on January 29, 2023, has been canceled.