A passenger aboard an Air New Zealand flight that was struck by lightning has commended the professionalism of crew staff after the great "flash" reduced some passengers to tears.
Air New Zealand flight 8151 from Auckland to Rotorua was turned around after lightning struck the plane in the Rotorua area, sending it back to Auckland..
Gavin Long, of Rotorua, was almost home from a conference when the plane which was approaching the Rotorua airport came across some "really atrocious" weather.
"Then there was a bang and a flash that filled the plane with light for a second.
"It [Lightning] hit the left wing but I couldn't see any damage. "