Imagine being on a flight that’s just about to take off, when suddenly the brakes are slammed on and you’re thrown into a state of panic.
This was the terrifying experience of passengers on an Air New Zealand flight bound for Brisbane on Monday morning.
The plane, scheduled to depart from Christchurch Airport at 6am, was forced to abort take-off due to a bird strike – a collision with birds that can be catastrophic for aircraft.
What Happened on Board
Passenger Aaron Taylor recounted the harrowing experience: “We were picking up speed on the runway, getting ready to lift off, when the brakes were applied harder than I’ve ever experienced before.
It was a really weird feeling – everyone was scared and unsure of what was happening.”
The captain quickly came over the intercom to inform passengers that the plane had suffered a bird strike, and that the fire services would be arriving to inspect the tires, which may have been damaged during the emergency braking.
A Captain’s Quick Thinking
Taylor praised the captain’s handling of the situation, saying: “He was amazing – kept us informed every step of the way.
He even came through the cabin to check on passengers and update us personally. I couldn’t fault him – his split-second decision to abort take-off probably saved our lives.”
Air New Zealand’s chief operational integrity and safety officer, Captain David Morgan, confirmed that the flight had experienced a suspected bird strike, and that the aircraft would need to undergo a full inspection before it could return to service.
Bird Strikes: A Common Problem
While the incident was frightening for passengers, Captain Morgan assured that bird strikes are not uncommon, and that aircraft are designed to withstand them.
“Our pilots are fully trained to handle bird strike scenarios,” he said. Unfortunately, the incident resulted in the cancellation of two flights – NZ207 from Christchurch to Brisbane, and NZ272 from Brisbane to Wellington.
However, Air New Zealand was quick to rebook flights and assist affected passengers, who were grateful for the airline’s efforts.