Air New Zealand Dreamliner performs emergency landing after engine issue at 12,000 feet

An Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner bound for Auckland had to return to Sydney for an emergency landing after one of its engines went idle mid-flight in late December. The aircraft, operating as flight NZ1104, departed Sydney about 12.40pm on December 21 and climbed to 12,000 feet when it experienced a technical problem with its left engine. An audio recording of the pilots’ communication with Sydney air traffic controllers posted to YouTube shows the problem was initially suspected to be an engine overheat, and that one of the aircraft’s engines was running idle. “Sydney, New Zealand 1104, pan-pan-pan, we have an overheat engine running on idle, left engine, we'd like to return for landing,” an Air New Zealand pilot says. Pan pan is an international urgency signal used by boats and aircraft to indicate a situation that is urgent, but for the time being, does not pose an immediate danger to anyone's life or to the vessel itself. Air New Zealand group general manager engineering and maintenance Brett Daley said, on inspection, the airline’s engineering team confirmed it was not an engine overheat, rather a minor issue with an ancillary system pipe fitted to the engine. Shortly after take off an engine caution indication illuminated in the flight deck, he said. In the air, the crew followed standard procedures and the message cleared however, they made the decision to return to Sydney, he said. “We have discussed this particular issue with Rolls-Royce and there is no immediate action required.”<br/>