A passenger onboard a Qantas plane diverted to Ohakea Air Force Base says people are visibly distressed.
A mechanical issue forced Flight QF171 from Melbourne to Wellington to be diverted this afternoon.
Ryan Newington told RNZ the plane was heating up while passengers remained stuck onboard on the tarmac.
They are waiting for customs staff to travel from Wellington to the airbase, about 140km drive away, to conduct checks.
"The infants have been moved to the front of the plane near the open door where it's likely cooler.
"Last we heard was it would take about two hour and that was at 3pm. But they are driving up so not sure if they will need a bit longer," Mr Newington said.
The plane was full of passengers, including some infants, he said.
"The infants have been moved to the front of the plane near the open door where it's likely cooler.
"The cabin crew are keeping up spirits and doing really well given the circumstances. It's bloody hot, some people are visibly distressed. Some people are understandably frustrated."
Passengers on the packed plane from Melbourne to Wellington included infants.
Staff were offering water, tea and coffee to help keep passengers hydrated, Mr Newington said.
A Qantas spokesperson said passengers would finish their trip to Wellington by bus.
"The aircraft diverted to Ohakea due to a mechanical issue where it landed safely," the spokesperson said.
"We apologise to our customers for the disruption but safety will always be our first priority."
The aircraft would usually divert to Palmerston but this was not possible due to the weather conditions, Qantas said.
