Strange Lights, Objects Spotted by Air NZ Flight-- Airspace Closed for Three Hours

INVERCARGILL, NZ. Yesterday, Passengers aboard Air New Zealand Flight 697 from Auckland to Invercargill reported seeing strange lights and objects "flying in formation" very near to the aircraft. According to sources, the pilots of the flight filed a near miss report to air traffic controllers. Shortly after, according to online flight tracking data, airspace over the South Island was cleared and several aircraft were diverted to other locations. Most notably, Qantas Flight 331 from Sydney, Australia to Christchurch was diverted to Auckland Airport. The airspace closure lasted approximately three hours.

Qantas Airlines officials released the following statement:

We are deeply sorry for any Qantas passengers and their families inconvenienced by the diversions, which were the result of an unfortunate airspace incident beyond our control. All passengers aboard the affected flights will be compensated for hotels in Auckland and given a $600 expense voucher. Flights from Auckland to their intended destination will be free.

Passengers aboard the Air New Zealand flight called the event "haunting" and "terrifying."

Jenny Nicholson is a student at the University of Auckland who was flying home to be with her family for Christmas:

We were all scared-- the object came so close to the plane, at first we thought we were being intercepted by the Air Force and we wondered if there was a bomb on the plane or something. But it moved so rapidly and its color was pure black-- there wasn't a flag or any kind of marking on it. It made several close passes just a few hundred meters off our wing before it rocketed out of sight.

David Seymour is a former political activist-turned bus driver from Palmerston North:

It was haunting. The craft came right up on our wing. It was black and looked like a kind of spinning oval shape with several protrusions on its skin. Occasionally, it would flash these blindingly bright lights in a very rythmic pattern. I'm normally a skeptic on such things, but I must believe the craft came from another world. I hope they believe in the healing power of the free market.

Passengers on the flight tweeted photos and videos of the encounter, and the story is gaining increasing traction on social media. There are numerous calls for the Prime Minister to release the air traffic control transcript of the event.

Juan Tabo, 43, of Dunedin tweeted this photo taken during the flight.

Another photograph sent to us by a passenger who wishes to remain anonymous.

We reached out to the Prime Minister and recieved the following comment:

This is a concerning report, and I am shocked by what I have read. While I have read the transcript I am not prepared to release the flight transcript as it is now a matter of National Security. That fact is out of my control. What is in my control is the Governments response to this to ensure that our planes can fly safely and without fear of collision and that the skies above our nation are protected in its sovereignty. I will speak alongside my Minister of Defence in a press conference later today after we have convened an emergency Cabinet meeting to determine what the appropriate response actually is first.

The Prime Minister will convene an emergency cabinet meeting and has distributed a briefing on the incident to all ministers.

The NZ Herald will keep you up to date on any further developments.