A Qantas flight bound for Hong Kong was forced to return to Melbourne Airport shortly after departure.
Flight QF29, operated by an Airbus A330-300, took off from Melbourne just before 1pm on Sunday, before the crew requested to turn back.
The flight landed 25 minutes after takeoff.Â
Qantas has not yet disclosed the exact nature of the issue, but the airline confirmed that the decision was made out of caution.
It’s understood the discovery of a hydraulic or technical issue was the cause of the aborted flight.Â
In a statement to Daily Mail, Melbourne Airport said that in line with aviation safety protocols, a ‘local standby’ was declared, a precautionary measure signalling the potential need for emergency assistance.Â
Fire and rescue crews were positioned at the airport as the aircraft made its return approach.
The plane landed safely without further incident and was towed to the gate, where passengers disembarked without issue.Â
Daily Mail contacted Qantas for comment. Â
A flight radar map shows the plane had only just taken off, before returning to Melbourne
Flight QF29 left Melbourne on Sunday, and was forced to land 25 minutes later (stock)
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Qantas is forced to turn back Hong Kong-bound flight to Melbourne Airport