Stench on a plane: Mystery odour grounds Qantas flight in Cairns

An “unusual smell” has forced a Qantas plane bound for the Philippines to be diverted to Cairns airport after passengers began to experience severe headaches and watery eyes.

A Qantas plane has been diverted to Cairns over a mystery smell. Picture: David Clark

An “unusual smell” has forced a Qantas plane bound for the Philippines to be diverted to Cairns airport after passengers began to experience severe headaches and watery eyes.

The Airbus A330 was flying from Sydney en route to Manila on Sunday afternoon when reports of the unpleasant odour emerged from within the cabin.

An airline spokeswoman confirmed that the aircraft was diverted to Cairns at the weekend and checked by engineers upon landing.

Initial reports suggested the foul stench was not related to the aircraft but came from a liquid spilt on a blanket during the flight, the spokeswoman said.

Queensland Ambulance Service received a call for assistance around 3pm with eight passengers later treated by paramedics at the airport.

One patient was transferred to Cairns Hospital at around 4.45pm with ongoing headaches.

Customers were provided accommodation overnight and reaccommodated onto a flight to Manila on Monday.

“We apologise for the disruption to their journey and thank them for their understanding,” the Qantas spokeswoman said.

Originally published as Stench on a plane: Mystery odour grounds Qantas flight in Cairns