29 Nov 2010

Flight turns back after smoke detected in cabin

6:37 pm on 29 November 2010

An Air New Zealand flight leaving Wellington Airport had to turn back soon after take-off due to the smell of smoke in the cabin.

Flight 5043 was heading to Dunedin on Monday.

The 66-seat plane operated by Mt Cook Airline was carrying 59 passengers.

Air New Zealand says there was no emergency landing and pilots followed procedures requesting airport services to be on standby.

Passengers have been accommodated on next available flights, and engineers will check the affected plane.