An Air Canada long-haul flight was forced to make an unexpected return to Auckland Airport this week after the cockpit crew detected a strange smell on board.
Flight Diverted Shortly After Takeoff
Flight AC40, operating one of the airline's longest routes from Auckland to Vancouver, departed New Zealand on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, after a one-hour delay. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner took off at approximately 3 pm local time but its journey was cut dramatically short.
Just seven minutes into the flight, the pilots reported an "unusual odour" in the cockpit and declared an emergency. Rather than continuing across the Pacific, the aircraft turned back while over the Coromandel Peninsula.
Standard Safety Procedure Followed
The plane then entered a holding pattern, circling over the Hauraki Gulf, up towards Great Barrier Island and down near the Waitākere Ranges. This manoeuvre, known as a holding pattern, is a standard safety procedure for long-haul flights needing to land unexpectedly.
"Circling in the sky burns off fuel, reducing the aircraft's weight and making a safer landing possible," explained an aviation source. The flight landed safely back at Auckland Airport just after 4 pm, having been airborne for only about an hour.
Airline Response and Passenger Rebooking
In a statement, an Air Canada spokesperson confirmed the diversion was made "out of an abundance of caution" following the odour detection. The airline moved swiftly to address the situation and reassure passengers.
"The aircraft landed normally and has been taken offline for an inspection by our maintenance and technical professionals," the spokesperson said. "We are making arrangements for passengers to be rebooked to their final destination."
Incidents involving unusual smells prompting diversions are not uncommon in aviation. Notably, last month a United Airlines Boeing 777 flying from London to San Francisco made an emergency landing in Edinburgh after the crew detected a burning smell on board.
Authorities have not yet specified the source of the odour on the Air Canada flight. The investigation by maintenance teams in Auckland is ongoing.
