Jetstar flight diverted to Brisbane after smoke fills cabin

“SCARY” is how one passenger describes a flight that was forced to divert to Brisbane after smoke filled the cabin and passengers heard a “scraping and grating” noise. | SEE VIDEO + JETSTAR STATEMENT

A JETSTAR flight has been forced to make an unscheduled landing in Brisbane after smoke filled the cabin accompanied by a “scraping and grating” noise on Thursday.

The flight from Sydney to Cairns departed just after 4pm and was shortly later forced to be diverted to Brisbane, about 40 minutes into the flight following the incident.

Witnesses on board the flight said that many passengers were forced to wrap clothes around their face to try and prevent them from breathing in smoke.

Cabin staff deal with the smoke on the Sydney to Cairns flight that was diverted to Brisbane.

“It was pretty scary, just as we flew over Narrabri smoke started to fill the cabin and there was a scraping and grating noise,” passenger Nick Trompf said.

“There was significant concern among the cabin crew.”

It’s understood an engine was forced to be switched off mid flight in an attempt to stop the smoke.

Passengers were ushered off the plane after it landed in Brisbane just before 6pm.

Jetstar confirmed the incident, saying that their aircraft had encountered a “technical issue with one of its engines.”

“The aircraft had a normal landing in Brisbane where it will be inspected by engineers to understand the cause of the issue,” a spokesman said.

“We apologise to our customers for this disruption and we making arrangements for our passengers to continue their journey to Cairns as soon as possible.”