Auckland Airport officials are investigating how an Air New Zealand plane bound for Los Angeles broke through the tarmac before taking flight.
The plane's wheels cracked the asphalt as the aircraft was being pushed off from the departure gate at around 7.30pm last night.
Around 250 passengers were forced to disembark from flight NZ-6 and were transferred to another plane, which left hours later.
Some of the cargo failed to make it onto the replacement plane.
The original plane is being examined and is due back in service this afternoon.
RadioLIVE