Maggie Barry to co-operate with investigation into delayed flight

Former politician Maggie Barry has been involved in an incident on a recent Air New Zealand flight from Auckland to Queenstown.

The incident began over what Barry describes in a statement on legacy media outlet The Post as a misunderstanding regarding her phone, which was hung around her neck on a lanyard and was mistaken for a bag that needed to be stored. After a minor disagreement with the cabin crew, she complied by placing the phone in the seat pocket.

Captain David Morgan of Air NZ confirmed to media that the flight was delayed by 40 minutes and that airport police had been called to the aircraft.

Barry has been in contact with the airline since the incident and expressed her willingness to cooperate with any investigation. In her statement she reiterated her respect for the work of pilots and flight crews and the importance of following their instructions.