A plane bound for Christchurch was forced to return to Tauranga Airport after one of the pilots on board became unwell this morning.

An Air New Zealand spokeswoman says flight NZ8807 departed Tauranga at 6am and landed back at the airport shortly before 7am without incident.

'This type of situation is one that all pilots train for, and the pilots followed standard operating procedure in returning to Tauranga.”

Customers on-board the flight have since been provided road transport to Auckland where they will be accommodated on alternate services to their final destinations.

The spokeswoman was unable to provide details on the condition of the pilot due to privacy reasons.

Speaking to SunLive from the bus bound for Auckland, passenger Janelle Mark says they spent what seemed like 20 minutes in the air before returning to Tauranga.

'We were turned back due to the pilot feeling faint. But the passengers, although disrupted, are pleased the pilot made this prudent decision.

'The ambulance was waiting for the pilot on the tarmac when the flight landed and tended to him for about 30 minutes.”

'There were a few people going on to Singapore so they may have been disappointed to miss their connection. But majority of passengers felt the pilot did the right thing and Air NZ staff were accommodating.”