New Zealand / Transport

Air NZ flight in Northland hit by laser

18:00 pm on 12 April 2018

An Air New Zealand flight has been hit by a green laser strike at Kerikeri Airport in Northland.

Police are investigating the incident, which happened just after 6am.

The plane had just left the airport and was flying at about 1500 feet when the laser strike happened.

Police said they wanted to hear from anyone who saw it or knows anything about it.

Authorities say the number of laser strikes on planes is increasing, and it is only a matter of time before something serious happens.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority, to the end of November last year there were 155 reported cases of laser strike, exceeding 2016's total of 152 and the 104 incidents reported in 2015.

In December 2016, a man was jailed for 10 weeks after admitting pointing a light at planes coming into land at Christchurch Airport.