Two Flights Diverted

Press, Issue 32333, 26 June 1970, Page 12

Two Flights Diverted

Two international flights were diverted to Christchurch Airport early yesterday afternoon because of fog which closed Auckland until 2.30 p.m. They were an Air New Zealand DCB from Nandi, and. for the first time in three years, a Pan American 707 with 97 passengers aboard which arrived from Honolulu. Both remained at Christchurch until mid-afternoon when they left for Adckland. The fog also closed Hamilton Airport. Yet there was only one cancelled N.A.C. flight out of Christchurch caused by the two North Island airports being closed. This was a direct flight from Christchurch to Auckland which should have left at 1.10 p.m. The first flight from Auckland reached Christchurch at 4.20 p.m. In the morning, Aucklandbound passengers were taken north as far as Wellington, but the capital was unable to absorb any more in the afternoon By mid-afternoon only 36 passengers bound for Auckland remained at Christchurch, and the airline was endeavouring to arrange a special direct flight.