A passenger plane that took off from Dubai flew for 13 hours and landed at the same airport after being forced to turn in the air.
Flight EK448 departed at 10:30 local time on Friday and was due to land in Auckland, New Zealand 16 hours later.
But the Emirates flight landed back in Dubai just after midnight on Saturday due to severe flooding at Auckland Airport.
It was about halfway through the 9,000-mile journey before it was forced to return to the airport of departure.
A passenger jet departing from Dubai flew for 13 hours and landed at the same airport after being forced to turn in the air
A state of emergency has been declared in Kiwi City after a storm surge wreaked havoc at the transport hub.
The airport said on Twitter: “Auckland Airport has assessed the damage to our international terminal and has unfortunately determined that international flights are unable to operate today.
“We know this is extremely frustrating, but passenger safety is our top priority.”
More than 2,000 passengers had to spend the night in the terminal on Friday when international and domestic flights were suddenly canceled until Sunday.
The downpour was caused by warm air descending from the tropics, bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms.
Social media photos (above) show the check-in area in the international terminal knee-deep in flood water
Both domestic and international airports are closed due to flooding in Auckland (stranded passengers pictured)
Rain records were broken in the city, with the airport recording 9.8 inches in the 24 hours to 9 a.m. Saturday, surpassing the 1985 high of 6.3 inches.
At least 5,000 homes and businesses were assessed for flood and landslide damage, and several roads remained closed.
The state of emergency for Auckland and surrounding counties was lifted on Monday morning, but Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown warned the dangerous conditions would return on Tuesday.
“My team’s current focus and our biggest concern is that some Aucklanders may think the worst is over, but it’s not,” Brown told reporters.
He said up to 5 inches of rain was forecast in some areas that were already soaked.
Passengers leaving Auckland were left stranded as high tides swept international and domestic airports (airport entry pictured).
At least 5,000 homes and businesses were assessed for flood and landslide damage, and several roads remained closed
“It’s nothing like Friday night, but the ground is so saturated and the sewers are so full that it could at least be more dangerous than Friday,” Brown said.
He said the number of residents in and around Auckland asking for help with storm damage would continue to rise.
“It took a while for everyone to realize how big and widespread this event was and it’s not over yet,” he said.
“The sinking was by far the biggest in our history. It went much further than our emergency services thought or planned.”
Tuesday’s heavy rain warning covered Auckland and further north in the North Island.
This rain is expected to cause dangerous river conditions and significant flooding. Landslides and flooding are likely to disrupt travel, make some roads impassable and potentially isolate communities,” the MetService said in a statement.
Schools in Auckland will remain closed until next week.
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James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.
