Some of New Zealand's top hockey players are under investigation, after "excessive noise" and "inappropriate language" disrupted an Air New Zealand flight on Sunday night.
Hockey NZ confirmed to Newshub that the incident took place on a flight from Wellington to Auckland, involving teams from the National Hockey League.
Passengers on the flight included players from the Auckland and North Harbour men's and women's teams, returning from the national finals in the capital.
North Harbour had defeated their Auckland rivals for the men's national title.
Hockey NZ spokesman John Whiting said the players were in "high spirits and emotionally charged".
He accepted the teams had some drinks after the games in the changing rooms, but said management were confident the players weren't intoxicated before the flight.
"Hockey New Zealand certainly does not condone any behaviour that brings our sport into disrepute," he said.
Whiting added that staff travelling separately apologised to cabin crew after the flight had landed.
"On behalf of Hockey New Zealand and the teams in question, we sincerely apologise for any disruption or offence caused to the airline or other passengers on the flight through excessive noise or any offensive actions."
He said the national sporting body had the full co-operation of the regions involved to continue investigating the incident.
Newshub.
