Coronavirus: Passenger removed from Air New Zealand flight given the all clear

The aircraft was held on the ground for 20 minutes.
The aircraft was held on the ground for 20 minutes. Photo credit: Jennifer Gehrt,

A passenger who was removed from an Air New Zealand flight moments after it landed in Auckland on Wednesday morning has been cleared of carrying COVID-19.

Newshub was contacted by the family member of a passenger onboard the same flight who was concerned about what checks were made before the flight departed.

"My mother was on the flight and told me the plane was held on the ground for 20 minutes while a team of medical professionals boarded wearing those white suits," the person said.

"She said a member of a family had been coughing during the flight."

The flight involved was Air NZ23 from Vancouver to Auckland, which landed just before 6am.

A Ministry of Health spokesperson confirmed they were aware of the incident, but the symptoms "didn't meet the definition of COVID-19".

"St John attended an unwell passenger arriving on a flight from Vancouver this morning. Crew wore personal protective equipment in accordance with their protocols," the spokesperson added.

Air NZ told Newshub the passenger had become unwell on the flight.