The A380 aircraft was forced to land at Ohakea Airbase, near Palmerston North.
The passenger told Newstalk ZB they're sitting on the plane while it's refuelled, and the brakes cool down.
Two international and three domestic flights were diverted from Auckland Airport, while others were cancelled or delayed - when the runway was closed briefly this afternoon..
Auckland Airport will only say the runway required maintenance... and won't say why.
