An investigation has been launched after a Malaysia Airlines plane took off from Auckland Airport on Christmas Day and surprised the pilot with the direction it started flying.Just eight minutes into the direct flight to Kuala Lumpur, MH132's pilot queried why his Airbus A330 was heading so far south.
He wondered why the plane was heading towards Melbourne and not taking a more direct flight path to the Malaysian capital.
It is understood passengers on board the flight, which left at 2.23am Christmas Day, were not alerted to the mix-up.
During discussions with air traffic controllers at the Auckland Oceanic control centre, the pilot was informed of the flight plan his airline had given to Airways, which manages air traffic control for New Zealand and South Pacific.
He then continued across the Tasman Sea before heading northwest to Kuala Lumpur.
Although there were no apparent safety concerns with the confusion, Airways yesterday confirmed it was investigating.
"We have an internal safety team who will investigate it," a spokeswoman said.
"The flight plan the airline filed with us was going to Kuala Lumpur but via a slightly different route than the pilot was expecting."
He wondered why the plane was heading towards Melbourne and not taking a more direct flight path to the Malaysian capital.
It is understood passengers on board the flight, which left at 2.23am Christmas Day, were not alerted to the mix-up.
During discussions with air traffic controllers at the Auckland Oceanic control centre, the pilot was informed of the flight plan his airline had given to Airways, which manages air traffic control for New Zealand and South Pacific.
He then continued across the Tasman Sea before heading northwest to Kuala Lumpur.
Although there were no apparent safety concerns with the confusion, Airways yesterday confirmed it was investigating.
"We have an internal safety team who will investigate it," a spokeswoman said.
"The flight plan the airline filed with us was going to Kuala Lumpur but via a slightly different route than the pilot was expecting."
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