Asia-Pacific

Flight hit by lightning after take off from NZ

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-11 12:39

WELLINGTON - A Qantas flight from Auckland to Melbourne was turned back after it was hit by lightning Wednesday, the New Zealand Press Association has reported.

The Boeing 737, flight QF 26, had 144 passengers aboard.

The crew did not declare an emergency and the 737 landed safely at Auckland about 2.30 pm, according to the report.

TVNZ reported that the cabin was filled with smoke, but no injuries were reported.

Qantas said damage to the aircraft was unknown, but it returned to Auckland as a precaution.

No other details were immediately available.

The aircraft is the third to make an unscheduled landing in New Zealand this week. Two Air New Zealand domestic flights were forced to make emergency landings with engine faults on Sunday.