A passenger on an Air New Zealand flight from Bali to Auckland, suffered a badly broken leg just 30 minutes into the flight; after the plane hit turbulence

After the seatbelt light was switched off, 47-year-old German-born Niko went to the toilet, and says the plane dropped on his way back to his seat.

A friend of Niko's says his leg pretty much snapped in half; suffering a fractured tibia and fibula.

The pilot later came out of the cockpit and apologised to passengers.

The man endured excruciating pain for the next six-and-a-half hours, while the plane continued its route to Auckland.

A Hato Hone St John spokesperson confirmed treating and transporting a patient from the airport to Middlemore Hospital on Wednesday.