Team India's Test squad had a frightening experience while travelling to Wellington after the third ODI against New Zealand. What was supposed to be a routine domestic flight turned into a tense journey when strong crosswinds and turbulence forced the pilots to abandon their first landing attempt.

The incident involved around 8–10 members of the Indian contingent, including Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and Anshul Kamboj, along with bowling coach Morne Morkel and other support staff.

Team India travelled on Air New Zealand flight NZ5817

According to a report by RevSportz, the Indian Test team boarded Air New Zealand flight NZ5817 from Hamilton to Wellington. The aircraft took off at 11:43 am local time, and the journey initially proceeded without any problems.

However, as the plane approached Wellington Airport, it encountered strong crosswinds and turbulence. The difficult weather conditions made the landing challenging, forcing the pilots to abort their first attempt.

Strong winds force pilots to abandon landing

Wellington Airport is known for its challenging landing conditions because of its geographical surroundings and exposure to strong winds.

At around 12:45 pm, as the aircraft approached the runway and was only a few hundred feet above the ground, the pilots decided not to proceed with the landing. They executed a go-around manoeuvre, taking the aircraft back into the air to ensure everyone's safety.

The plane then climbed to an altitude of more than 5,000 feet before preparing for another attempt.

Aircraft lands safely after a 26-minute delay

After conditions improved, the pilots made a second attempt to land. This time, the aircraft successfully touched down at Wellington Airport at 1:06 pm.

The landing took place approximately 26 minutes later than originally expected. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and all the players and members of the support staff reached Wellington safely.

The successful landing brought considerable relief to the Indian contingent after the tense experience.

India prepares for the upcoming Test series

Following the third ODI, the Indian team had divided into two groups. One group travelled to Mount Maunganui for the remaining two ODIs, while the other headed to Wellington to begin preparations for the Test series.

The first Test between India and New Zealand is scheduled to begin on November 19 at Wellington's Basin Reserve. With the squad now safely at its destination, attention will turn towards preparations for the upcoming red-ball contest.