This was due to severe flooding at Auckland Airport. Which closed the airport over the weekend.
Passengers boarded an Emirates flight from Dubai to New Zealand on Friday morning. Yet, after flying for more than 13 hours, the plane returned to the same airport in an unusual incident. A Fox News report said. Flight EK448 took off around 10:30 am local time. About halfway through the 9,000-mile trip, the pilot made a U-turn, according to FlightAware. The plane finally returned to Dubai at midnight on Saturday.
This was due to severe flooding at Auckland Airport. Which closed the airport over the weekend.
Auckland Airport Authority took to Twitter and said “this is extremely disappointing.” But important in terms of passenger safety. “Auckland Airport is assessing the damage to our international terminal. And has unfortunately decided not to operate any international flights today. We know this is extremely disappointing. But passenger safety is our highest priority,” they said. Additionally, they said any international flights may go until 5 am on January 29. “There are no international passenger arrivals. At Auckland Airport until 7am on Sunday 29 January,” the airport authority added.
The airport resumed operations on Sunday. After it was completely flooded, according to videos circulating on social media. Incessant rain caused flooding at the airport, leaving passengers in the water. According to the BBC, Auckland seen the “worst rain on record” on Friday. A state of emergency continues in New Zealand’s largest city as more heavy rain falls this week. At least four people died in the severe floods. Videos on social media showed residents stuck in waist-deep. Water and rescue operations being carried out in kayaks.
