An Air NZ flight to Rarotonga was turned back. (File photo) Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Air New Zealand says one of its planes is being checked by engineers after it was struck with lightning on a flight to Rarotonga.
Flight NZ942 was hit soon after leaving Auckland on Thursday morning and promptly returned to the airport.
Air New Zealand said it has been working to rebook customers, with a recovery flight leaving Friday afternoon.
It said lightning strikes were not uncommon and was a situation its pilots were trained for.
It is the second time this week an Air New Zealand plane has been turned back mid-journey, with Monday's Tokyo flight turned around because of a cracked windscreen.