Air New Zealand's 9-hour flight to no where

AIR NEW ZEALAND BOEING 787-9 ZK-NZD (MSN 41989)

On the 1st of July an Air New Zealand Boeing 787, bound for Shanghai (PVG / ZSPD) operated a nine-hour flight from Auckland-to-Auckland due to engine trouble.

Air New Zealand flight NZ289 departed Auckland at 23.01 local time from runway 23L. 

Everything appeared normal on the flight, but due to an engine problem, 4 hours 41 minutes into the flight, and near the Solomon Islands, the crew decided to make a U-turn back to the Kiwi airport.

After a staggering 9 hours and 23 minutes in the air, Air New Zealand flight NZ289 landed safely back in Auckland with its engine problem, at 0825 local time on the 2nd of July.

Reports state the issue was due to one of its Trent 1000 engines suffering a heavier reduction in oil quantity than normal.

It is understood the return back to Auckland was just precautionary.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Air New Zealand

Code: NZ/ANZ

Aircraft: Boeing 787-9

Registration: ZK-NZD

Serial Number: 41989

Engines: 2 X RR TRENT 1000

First Flew: 7th November 2013

Age: 10.7 Years.