Panic in the air as Qantas flight is forced to return to Melbourne after smoke was detected in the cockpit
A Qantas flight has been forced to return to Melbourne and land after smoke was detected in the cockpit.
The Boeing 737 landed without incident shortly after 10.30am.
A spokesperson for Tullamarine airport told the Herald Sun a ‘precautionary emergency response’ was made ready for the landing but the plane taxied normally once down.
‘Emergency services are in the process of standing down,’ the spokesperson said
A Qantas spokeswoman said QF769 returned to Melbourne shortly after take off, due to the crew reporting fumes in the flight deck.
‘Following standard procedure, the captain declared a priority landing and returned to Melbourne,’ the Qantas spokeswoman said.
‘The aircraft landed normally and safely and passengers have disembarked the aircraft.
‘Engineers are inspecting the aircraft and the passengers will be transferred to an alternative aircraft.’
A Fire Rescue Victoria spokesman said crews responded to reports of smoke in an plane’s cockpit but were not required to act.
The incident was declared safe shortly before 11am.