Summary

  • Jetstar flight JQ285 returned to Auckland due to significant turbulence caused by strong winds during the journey to Dunedin.
  • Severe wind warnings issued across Christchurch and Canterbury led to flight disruptions and temperature spikes in the area.
  • Jetstar rescheduled an alternative flight for affected passengers and provided overnight accommodation following the incident.

In an abundance of caution, a recent Jetstar Airways flight from Auckland to Dunedin had to return to its point of origin after ‘significant turbulence’ was experienced onboard. JQ285 departed from Auckland to the ‘Edinburgh of the South’ (Dunedin) after just an hour into the almost two-hour flight. The captain reported ‘strong wind disruptions’ en route before the aircraft made a U-turn on Saturday.

This weekend, severe wind warnings have been issued across Christchurch and Canterbury, disrupting several flights. These ‘Foehn’ winds have also spiked temperatures in the area, leading to many scrub fires popping up across New Zealand’s largest province.

Jetstar Airbus A320

Photo: Peterfz30 | Shutterstock

The pilot onboard made the conscious decision to return to Auckland after encountering strong winds, while passengers may already have been on edge following an unrelated incident, including another Jetstar service on Friday, where a hydraulic issue led to the aircraft swerving off the runway at Christchurch International Airport (CHC).

Jetstar JQ285

New Zealand’s second-largest airline, Jetstar, operates a direct link to Dunedin once daily with the Airbus A320, which departs Auckland at 13:35 before arriving at Dunedin Airport (DUD) at 15:25. On June 1, the flight had already departed almost an hour late, at 14:24 and had reached it’s cruising altitude of 36,000ft at the time of the incident. According to data from Flightradar24, an online global flight tracker, the turbulence was encountered above the Southern Range and Lewis Pass, where it is clear the pilot descended to around 28,000 feet and changed direction towards Christchurch.

The aircraft continued in the direction of Christchurch. Upon arriving in the skies above the southern city, the flight ascended again and turned to head back towards Auckland. The flight returned to its origin point almost two hours after it departed.

jq285

Simple Flying reached out to Jetstar for comment about the incident, and a spokesperson responded:

“A flight from Auckland to Dunedin experienced significant turbulence on Saturday afternoon, with our Captain reporting strong wind fluctuations on the flightpath before electing to return to Auckland as a precaution. No injuries were reported however we appreciate this would have been unsettling for customers on board.”

“Aircraft are built to withstand adverse weather and turbulence, and our pilots and crew are highly trained to manage these situations. We rescheduled an alternative fight for Sunday with overnight hotel accommodation provided, and we sincerely thank everyone for their flexibility while we worked to get them on their way again as quickly as possible.”

Jetstar A320

Photo: Changi Airport Group

Jetstar operations in New Zealand

Qantas’ low-cost subsidiary Jetstar operates several main-line trunk routes across New Zealand and has an extensive trans-Tasman network. The airline’s domestic base at Auckland Airport serves Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown, and Dunedin directly. In addition, services are provided between Wellington to Christchurch, and Queenstown. All of the routes are operated by the Airbus A320.

Related

Jetstar Airbus A320 Veers Off Runway At Christchurch Airport Due To Hydraulic Failure

No passengers were harmed, but the runway was closed for three hours following the incident.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *