Qantas QF144: Auckland to Sydney flight lands safely after mid-air emergency

A Qantas flight has landed at Sydney Airport after engine trouble prompted a mid-air emergency while flying over the Pacific Ocean.

QF144 was flying from Auckland to Sydney on Wednesday afternoon when crews made an emergency may day call after experiencing engine issues.

With the flight still one hour away from its destination, paramedics and firefighters were deployed to Sydney Airport in preparation for a possible emergency landing.

“While a mayday was initially issued, this has now been downgraded to a PAN (‘possible assistance needed’),” a Qantas spokeswoman said.

The aircraft is a 10-year-old, twin-jet Boeing 737-800.

“A mayday call is an internationally recognised, emergency or distress call,” a spokeswoman for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority told AAP.

A mayday call is issued when a flight is in grave and imminent danger and needs immediate assistance.

Once the call is issued controllers alert aviation rescue, firefighting and emergency services with details on how to respond. They also provide assistance to pilots.

The flight left Auckland at 2.30pm local time and landed in Sydney at 3.26pm

With Australian Associated Press