Qantas plane carrying 266 people makes emergency landing at Adelaide Airport after warning light indicates smoke in cargo hold

A QANTAS plane carrying 266 people — including the Central Coast Mariners — made an emergency landing at Adelaide Airport after a smoke alert.

A QANTAS plane carrying 266 people has made an emergency landing at Adelaide Airport after a warning light indicated there was smoke in the cargo hold.

Flight QF581, which was flying from Sydney to Perth and had the Central Coast Mariners A-League team on board, landed safely at 12.40pm.

It was scheduled to leave Sydney at 10.10am (AEST) and to arrive in Perth at 12.10pm (WST).

The Mariners are scheduled to take on the Perth Glory at 6.45pm on Saturday.

One Mariners player said: “We’re playing the Perth Glory tomorrow night — we hope we’re back in the air soon.”

Fellow passenger John Mooney, of Wagga Wagga, said the Mariners “were having a bit of fun on the flight and joking around when we were diverted”.

Advertiser.com.au spoke to several passengers who said there was no smell of smoke in the cabin.

They said the pilot had told passengers over the plane’s intercom that a warning light had come on saying there was smoke in the cargo hold.

The plane, which had just passed Adelaide, turned back to make the emergency landing.

One passenger said: “It was calm, cool and very collected.”

Strategy consultant Tim Brewer, who was on the flight, praised airport and Qantas staff in a tweet after the plane landed.

Multiple ambulances were dispatched to the airport.

The source of the smoke warning is being investigated.

News from Adelaide is that they will be back in the air shortly heading to Western Australia. A slight detour as we go for Glory! #PERvCCM

— #CCMFC (@CCMariners) April 4, 2014

Breaking: Our team's flight from Sydney to Perth has had to land in Adelaide due to smoke in the cabin. Everyone is safe & sound. #PERvCCM

— #CCMFC (@CCMariners) April 4, 2014

Our #Qantas A330 #Sydney #Perth diverted to #Adelaide due smoke warning Staff/Airport were great pic.twitter.com/0GLHRD8ZJl

— Tim Brewer (@timvickibrewer) April 4, 2014