New Zealand Police rushed to the scene when the Quantas flight landed on Tuesday, April 14
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NEED TO KNOW
- A woman has died on a Qantas flight from New York to Auckland, New Zealand
- A Qantas spoeksperson confirmed to PEOPLE that medical assistance was provided onboard, adding that their “thoughts are with the passenger’s family and loved ones”
- Emergency services met the plane in Auckland on Tuesday, April 14
A woman has died on an overnight flight from the U.S. to New Zealand.
The death occurred on Qantas flight QF4 from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Auckland Airport (AKL), according to local news outlets Stuff, the New Zealand Herald and travel news site Aviation A2Z.
Emergency services rushed to the aircraft upon its arrival in New Zealand, per the outlets.
On Tuesday, April 14, New Zealand Police confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE that they have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the woman's death.
“Police have attended a sudden death, which occurred on an inbound Qantas flight from New York to Auckland overnight,” said a New Zealand Police spokesperson. “Police are making enquiries into the woman's death on behalf of the Coroner.”
Credit: Brendon O’Hagan/Bloomberg via Getty
Qantas flight QF4 from New York to Sydney via Auckland is among the longest scheduled commercial flights in the world, according to the New Zealand Herald.
A short stopover in Auckland follows a flight of up to 17 hours, with the second leg of the journey to Sydney taking between three and four hours.
Data on Flight Aware shows the recent QF4 flight departed for Sydney almost an hour and 30 minutes late from Auckland following the woman's death.
Details of her identity have not been shared publicly at this time.
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A Qantas spokesperson told PEOPLE that attempts had been made to provide the woman with emergency care before the aircraft arrived in Auckland on Tuesday.
“Medical assistance was provided to a passenger onboard QF4 on Monday by crew and doctors onboard,” said the spokesperson.
They added, “Our thoughts are with the passenger's family and loved ones.”
Auckland Airport did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Tuesday, April 14.
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