No fatalities

Air New Zealand Airbus A320 Engine Surge After Bird Strike and Inspection

Auckland, New Zealand, New Zealand

On June 20, 2012, an AIRBUS A320 232 operated by AIR NEW ZEALAND LTD was involved in an aviation accident near Auckland, New Zealand, New Zealand. No fatalities were reported. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards
AIRBUS A320 232
Photo: Tosaka / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On 20 June 2012, an Air New Zealand Airbus A320 (ZK-OJQ) struck a bird on approach to Wellington. After a safe landing and maintenance inspection, the engine surged on approach to Auckland; the crew reduced power and landed safely.

Incident

On 20 June 2012, an Airbus A320, registration ZK-OJQ, operated by Air New Zealand, experienced a bird strike on its right-hand engine during approach to Wellington Aerodrome in New Zealand. The aircraft landed safely without further incident.

Inspection

Following the landing, Air New Zealand Maintenance personnel conducted an inspection of the right-hand engine in accordance with the Airbus aircraft maintenance manual. The inspection was completed, and the aircraft was released to service.

Subsequent Flight

The aeroplane then operated a flight from Wellington to Auckland, approximately one hour in duration. During the approach to Auckland, the right-hand engine surged. The flight crew responded by retarding the engine to idle power. The aircraft landed safely at Auckland without further incident.

The investigation into the event is under the jurisdiction of the New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC). Further information may be obtained from TAIC at the provided contact details.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 20 Jun 2012 AIRBUS A320 232 accident near Auckland, New Zealand, New Zealand?

On 20 June 2012, an Air New Zealand Airbus A320 (ZK-OJQ) struck a bird on approach to Wellington. After a safe landing and maintenance inspection, the engine surged on approach to Auckland; the crew reduced power and landed safely.

Were there any fatalities in the 20 Jun 2012 AIRBUS A320 232 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 20 Jun 2012 involved an AIRBUS A320 232, operated by AIR NEW ZEALAND LTD, at Auckland, New Zealand, New Zealand.