The “majority” of Air New Zealand customers affected by the failed landings at Rarotonga International Airport due to crosswinds earlier this week have been rebooked, the airline said yesterday.

On Monday, flight NZ946 from Auckland to Rarotonga was forced to return to Auckland after failing to land, resulting in the cancellation of the return flight, NZ945, from Rarotonga to Auckland.

This sparked an uproar among affected passengers, some of whom took to social media to share their experiences.

Yesterday, an Air New Zealand spokesperson told Cook Islands News: “We have been able to rebook the majority of customers onto services over the next few days.”

One of the passengers onboard the Auckland-Rarotonga flight said there were extreme winds, “two tries landing, medium level turbulence”.

“Actually, we didn't feel the turbulence because we were at the front of the plane but our poor adult kids back in economy said it was pretty awful.”

The passenger and his family were accommodated at the Sudima Auckland Airport hotel, with a meal allowance of $90 per person for the first night. Their insurance covered the cost of their lost accommodation in Rarotonga.

In a statement on Monday evening, Air New Zealand’s head of flight operations, Hugh Pearce explained that the safety of the passengers was their priority.

“NZ946 from Auckland to Rarotonga was unable to land due to crosswinds at Rarotonga International Airport,” Pearce stated.

“While we know this weather disruption will be frustrating, the safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority.

“We appreciate the patience and understanding of our customers while our team works to rebook them onto the next available services.”

Crosswinds can make it difficult for pilots to control the aircraft while guiding it towards the runway for landing, usually causing the aeroplane to drift sideways, according to NZ Herald.

Various factors are considered in deciding whether a flight continues its route, diverts to another airport or returns to its departure airport. When it comes to weather disruptions such as crosswinds, airlines often divert to another airport.