- A truck crashed into an Air New Zealand Boeing 787 Dreamliner last week, prompting an ongoing investigation.
- The aircraft, constructed from carbon fiber, will be out of service for an undisclosed period for repairs.
- This incident adds to Air New Zealand’s previous challenges with its Dreamliner fleet, which faced engine and paint issues.
Investigation Launched Following Truck's Collision with Air New Zealand's Boeing 787
AUCKLAND — A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner owned by Air New Zealand became the subject of an ongoing investigation after a truck crashed into it at Auckland Airport last week. Greg Foran, the airline’s Chief Executive Officer, expressed his frustration over the incident but acknowledged, "these things do happen."
The collision took place while the aircraft was not in service, confirmed a spokesperson for Air New Zealand. While the investigation is in progress, the extent of the damage and how long the aircraft will be sidelined are still being assessed. “The plane needs quite a bit of work,” said the spokesperson.
Past issues have plagued Air New Zealand's fleet of Dreamliners. From 2017 to 2020, several Dreamliner aircraft had to undergo servicing to resolve issues with their Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. Even last year, the airline experienced complications due to paint peeling on the wings. During those periods, the national carrier of New Zealand had to ground up to five 787-9s at one time and operated lease aircraft to lessen the impact on its passengers.
The current incident has also disrupted the operator's flight schedules. "We are still assessing how long the aircraft will be out of service and what the impacts will be," added the spokesperson.
Foran emphasized the delicate nature of the aircraft's construction. “These aircraft are made out of carbon fibre, and you don’t want to really hit them at all. You certainly don’t want to create any damage,” he stated.
As the investigation progresses, details are expected to emerge about the extent of the damage, and how long the airline will need to repair the affected aircraft.
The collision took place while the aircraft was not in service, confirmed a spokesperson for Air New Zealand. While the investigation is in progress, the extent of the damage and how long the aircraft will be sidelined are still being assessed. “The plane needs quite a bit of work,” said the spokesperson.
Past issues have plagued Air New Zealand's fleet of Dreamliners. From 2017 to 2020, several Dreamliner aircraft had to undergo servicing to resolve issues with their Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. Even last year, the airline experienced complications due to paint peeling on the wings. During those periods, the national carrier of New Zealand had to ground up to five 787-9s at one time and operated lease aircraft to lessen the impact on its passengers.
The current incident has also disrupted the operator's flight schedules. "We are still assessing how long the aircraft will be out of service and what the impacts will be," added the spokesperson.
Foran emphasized the delicate nature of the aircraft's construction. “These aircraft are made out of carbon fibre, and you don’t want to really hit them at all. You certainly don’t want to create any damage,” he stated.
As the investigation progresses, details are expected to emerge about the extent of the damage, and how long the airline will need to repair the affected aircraft.
