A suspected mid-air medical emergency last night forced a packed Air New Zealand plane bound for Hong Kong to turn back just hours into the flight.
The plane, which left Auckland just before midnight, was crossing the Tasman Sea when passengers were told the plane had to urgently return to Auckland because of a medical emergency.
A passenger understood someone in the cockpit had fallen ill and was being treated by paramedics.
Passengers, including many young children just settled down to sleep, were then taken off the plane when it landed in the early hours of the morning.
They were now checking back into a rescheduled flight due to leave at 10am.
Those at the airport said it was chaotic with just two staff to tend to the plane-load of passengers.
"It's flipping bonkers here," said the passenger.
"Only two people on at Air NZ, one man screaming and swearing in line that he's going to sue, kids asleep everywhere."
Air New Zealand has been approached for comment.
