National carrier Air New Zealand canceled or delayed domestic flights due to Mount Tongariro Volcano ash on Monday night.
Gisborne, Rotorua, Taupo and Palmerston North May be affected.
The aviation colour code around Mt Tongariro was downgraded from red to orange, but the volcanic alert level remains. The plume from the eruption last night was steam-driven and 7000 m high. The colour code is used to alert aviation carriers to volcanic activity.
Air New Zealand flight NZ-99 had to return and make an emergency landing in Auckland, New Zealand, on April 21st.
The plane took off for Tokyo, Japan, but had to turn back due to issues with the cabin pressure.
The plane landed safely. All two hundred and fifty-six people aboard remained unharmed.
What: Air New Zealand en route from Invercargill and Christchurch
Where: Dunedin International Airport
When: September 06 2010
Who: 43 passengers
Why: While en route, the cockpit began to smell of fuel. The plane diverted to Dunedin where it made a safe landing.
Passengers were booked on alternative flights while maintenance studied the plane. Operations Manager Richard Roberts verified one crew member was hospitalized.
Air New Zealand flight NZ-6 had to return and make an emergency landing in Auckland, New Zealand, on April 6th.
The Boeing 777-300 plane took off for Los Angeles, California, but had to turn back due to a hydraulic fault.
The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Adam Howley
What: Ardmore Flying School Cessna C172R
Where: Thames New Zealand
When: Oct 25 2010
Who: 2 aboard
Why: At 10:22 a.m, the plane crashed into the pond at the end of a runway. Both individuals aboard the plane were able to exit under their own power. The plane presumably is a total loss. This is not the first time a plane has crashed into the pond at the foot of the runway.
