Today’s New Zealand Herald newspaper reports that the Lan Chile Airbus A340 flying from Santiago, Chile, to Auckland, New Zealand, on Tuesday night came close to being hit “by blazing pieces of a Russian satellite hurtling into New Zealand airspace. The disintegrating satellite was so close to the aircraft that the pilot could hear the roar it made as it broke the sound barrier.…At the aircraft’s cruising speed of 880km/h it was within about 40 seconds of a potential catastrophe.”
On board the plane, asleep and unaware of this drama, were Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe and the entire Pet Shop Boys touring party. Lan Chile flight 801 left Santiago late on Monday evening and, crossing the International Date Line, arrived safely at Auckland at 4 am on Wednesday morning.
Pet Shop Boys perform their debut New Zealand concert tonight at the St James Theatre, Auckland.
PSB plane “40 seconds from air disaster”
Thanks to the wonderful “Dreamworld” and “Obskur” audiences in Berlin who came out to dance with Pet Shop Boys over the last 3 days. A special thanks to Princess Julia and The Hidden Cameras for performing at the sold-out shows at Huxleys Neue Welt. After a short break, the “Dreamworld” summer tour continues in Spain and Norway before finishing in Denmark.
Photo: Theresa Heyd
Recent News
Pet Shop Boys are about to play four dates in four days in Germany, starting in Mönchengladbach this Friday and continuing at Berlin’s Waldbühne on Saturday.
Pet Shop Boys are pleased to announce DJ support acts for their “Dreamworld” shows in Germany this summer.
Pet Shop Boys’ “Since 1984” range has just been updated with new items, including three “Suburbia” and “Leaving” T‑Shirts and a “Since 1984” sweatshirt.
PSB are excited to announce “Obskur Pet Shop Boys”, two exclusive live concerts at Huxleys Neue Welt in Berlin on 12th and 13th July 2026.
Check out the new “Since 1984” merchandise items which have just been added to the official PSB store, including T‑shirts, a hoodie and a cap.