International flight diverted to Ohakea

Passengers on a flight from Singapore got a nearly four-hour surprise stopover at O¯ hakea after Auckland airport’s runway was shut down yesterday.

Two international and three domestic flights were diverted from the airport yesterday afternoon during the ‘‘brief’’ closure for maintenance, an Airways spokeswoman said.

Flight SQ285 was due in Auckland at 1.20pm but instead was forced to the air base near Palmerston North, where passengers were not allowed off the plane.

It was all a surprise according to New

Plymouth resident Jeff Richards, who had been in Singapore on business.

‘‘They just said we’d been diverted from Auckland and we were going to O¯ hakea.

But once we landed they didn’t say where we were going.

‘‘They just told us damaged in Auckland.’’

But he said they weren’t given a lot of information on how long it would be closed for.

"It was annoying, especially after a 10 hour flight from Singapore. But what can you do about it?’’ Auckland resident Meera Phadke said.

Phadke said she was just happy to be back home.

Six Air New Zealand turboprop aircraft the tarmac was due to land at Auckland Airport were diverted to Tauranga, Rotorua and Hamilton after debris was found on the runway, an Air NZ spokesperson said.

Four Air NZ regional flights departing from Auckland Airport were delayed, the spokesperson said.

Auckland Airport said runway integrity was its ‘‘highest priority’’.

‘‘We have a comprehensive aerodrome management programme which includes a physical inspection of the runway four times in every 24 hour period.

‘‘On occasion Auckland Airport will temporarily close the runway to allow closer inspection of a particular area and/ or undertake maintenance if required,’’ it said.