Travellers stuck in Alice Springs after flight from Bangkok to Melbourne makes emergency landing

Passengers who were forced to sit on the tarmac in Alice Springs for seven hours after the plane made an emergency landing have arrived back in Melbourne.

After the Jetstar flight landed in Alice Springs, the plane could not take off again because of a mechanical fault. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

An ill-fated Jetstar flight has finally touched down in Melbourne, after passengers were stranded in Alice Springs for more than 11 hours.

Hundreds of furious travellers were on board the flight from Bangkok when it was forced to divert to Alice Springs due to a passenger needing urgent medical attention.

Once in Alice Springs, the pilot realised the plane could not take off again because of a mechanical fault.

Eleven hours later and the 787-8 Dreamliner was echoing with the screams of distressed children and the sounds of passengers suffering from panic attacks.

Jetstar passengers were finally able to get off the aircraft and wait for their replacement flight. Picture: Nine News

Nalanda Robson told the Herald Sun she was caught on the tarmac for seven hours and passengers had only received a muffin from the cabin crew.

“I’m so tired,” she said.

“I have no idea what’s going on, apparently another plane has just arrived.

“In-flight entertainment got us through, but people slept mostly.

“And then they shut off the in-flight entertainment.

“But, according to another passenger who is a GP, that also shuts off the assistance button for people who need it.”

Tempers boiled to the point where two women tried to get out of the plane without permission from staff, before NT police were called into the cabin to arrest them.

The plane eventually touched down in Melbourne about 11pm on Sunday night but passengers’ checked baggage remains in Alice Springs.

The Jetstar flight arrived in Melbourne late Sunday evening.

Their luggage is expected to be flown into Melbourne on Monday afternoon.

Jetstar released a statement of regret regarding the incident and said an “electrical issue” was to blame for the chronic delay.

“As a domestic airport, Alice Springs does not have customs processing facilities and we worked with Border Agencies, the NT Police and the local Airport Authority to provide passengers with the option to disembark into a specially partitioned section of the Airport,” they said.

“They were then transferred directly onto the replacement aircraft. We worked with the local Airport to provide passengers with food, drinks and snacks.”

“Safety is always our first priority, and we thank passengers for their patience and understanding as we supported the passenger requiring urgent medical assistance and worked to get everyone else on their way as quickly as possible.”

NT police confirmed the women who were arrested from the plane were held in a watch house but have since been released.

“Yesterday, an international flight was redirected to the Alice Springs Airport, due to a medical emergency. Passengers were advised to remain on the plane until further notice,” a spokesman said.

“Two females, aged 37 and 40, became aggressive towards flight staff and attempted to evacuate the plane without permission.

“Northern Territory Police arrived on scene and the pair were arrested and conveyed to the Alice Springs Watch House. They have since been released from the watch house.”

Originally published as Travellers stuck in Alice Springs after flight from Bangkok to Melbourne makes emergency landing