Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's flight to Nelson diverted after passenger suffers medical emergency

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's flight to Nelson diverted after passenger suffers medical emergency
Photo credit: Newshub

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's flight from Auckland to Nelson was diverted after a passenger suffered a medical emergency. 

The Prime Minister's office confirmed to Newshub on Thursday that Ardern was on the flight, which had to be diverted to New Plymouth Airport for about 50 minutes. 

An Air New Zealand spokesperson told Newshub flight NZ5065 from Auckland to Nelson was "diverted to New Plymouth after a medical incident on board". 

"Customers were given the choice to disembark, stretch their legs and breathe in the fresh Taranaki air before boarding again."

The flight safely landed in Nelson at 11:22am.

Ardern is understood to be in Nelson for an engagement with the business community.