Flight returned to Christchurch may have hit the light

An Air New Zealand flight that was returned in the middle of a flight from Christchurch to Dunedin is believed to have reached the runway.

Photograph: RNZ / Claire Eastham-Farrelly

Flight NZ5759 departed from Christchurch shortly after 7:00 pm but was about 20 minutes into the flight because pilots believed they had hit something during takeoff.

An initial check of the aircraft found tire marks on one of its tires, suggesting that it came into contact with the runway light, company spokeswoman Hannah Searle said.

The plane was checked by engineers and returned to service this morning.