An Air New Zealand flight from Los Angeles has been stood down after the plane was clipped by another aircraft while on the tarmac.
The airline says the Boeing 777-300 was at the gate and ready for boarding when the horizontal stabiliser on its tail was clipped by another aircraft being towed.
A Air New Zealand spokesperson said the airline is doing everything it can to help affected passengers, including re-accommodating some on a different flight or re-routing others via other airlines or North American ports.
Air New Zealand engineers are travelling to LA and a replacement part will need to be found.
It could take several days for the plane to be repaired, they said.