Video has emerged showing the moment an Air NZ flight was struck by lightning.
The flight from Auckland to Tahiti had only been in the air for around 10 minutes on Friday night when passengers heard a loud bang along with a bright flash of light.
Crew in control of the 787-9 Dreamliner then initiation a fuel dump over the Bay of Plenty, before returning to land in Auckland.
The Tahiti-bound flight was just one of four to be struck by lightning in the Auckland region since Friday.
A flight to Christchurch from New Plymouth and a flight from Wellington to Auckland were struck on Saturday morning. The airline also cancelled a Perth to Auckland service due to a lightning strike.
Air New Zealand said this kind of incident is not particularly unique.
"Lightning strikes are not uncommon. Aircraft are designed with this in mind and our pilots train for this scenario."
One passenger on the flight tweeted saying the experience was surreal: "Loud bang and flash then eerily awkward and quiet."
Any aircraft struck by lightning undergo testing by airline engineers before re-entering service.
Newshub.
