An Air New Zealand flight operating from Wellington, New Zealand to Queenstown was forced to turn back after strong wind shear conditions prevented its landing today.
Air New Zealand flight NZ607, operated by an Airbus A320-200 had departed from the capital of Wellington to conduct the short hop service. Queenstown, a popular tourist destination is on New Zealand’s south island.
Air New Zealand NZ607 Wellington-Queenstown
On its arrival at Queenstown International Airport (ZQN), conditions of significant wind shear prevented the flight from landing.
The operating crew then elected to make a return to the origin airport at Wellington.
Flight Details
Flight data shows that flight NZ607 had departed from Wellington International Airport (WLG) at 1404 local time today, 19 November 2024.
The flight had then proceeded normally, climbing to flight level FL360 for the southerly service to Queenstown.
On arrival, the flight had conducted a normal arrival and had descended to approximately 2,000 feet before electing to conduct a missed approach.
Previous Disruptions
Strong wind conditions have recently caused significant disruptions to flights in and out of Queenstown. The turbulent weather has led to flight cancellations, diversions, and delays, leaving many travelers stranded.
Previously, hundreds of participants in the Queenstown Marathon were left stranded when numerous flights were canceled or diverted due to severe crosswinds. This incident, which took place on 15 November 2024, impacted both arrivals and departures, causing significant inconvenience for travelers.
Queenstown’s unique geographic location and surrounding mountain ranges contribute to the frequent occurrence of wind shear.
Wind shear is a change in wind speed and/or direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere. It can occur either horizontally or vertically, and presents a hazard to aviation, particularly during takeoff and landing.
Queenstown Airport is situated in a valley surrounded by mountains, making it particularly susceptible to wind shear, especially during periods of strong winds.
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