Window crack forces pilot to abort flight

An Air New Zealand flight was forced into an abrupt about-turn yesterday when the pilot noticed a small crack in a cockpit window.

The 11am Christchurch-bound flight had climbed to about 8000 feet out of Auckland Airport yesterday when the pilot spotted the crack.

The Boeing 737 had to circle to burn off fuel before it was able to land.

A spokesman for the national carrier said turning back was standard safety procedure in such circumstances, but there was never any danger.

Meanwhile, an international flight headed for New Zealand arrived 24 hours late after mechanical problems surfaced two hours into the journey.

The Garuda Indonesia plane aborted the flight to New Zealand, via Australia from Bali, after being airborne for more than two hours.