Pilots told passengers that a smoke alarm had been activated in the cargo bay, Balzan said, and that they were taking precautions to ensure a safe flight. He estimated about 15 fire trucks were awaiting the plane’s landing.
“They [pilots] were very good about it all, kept us informed, and we landed all safely,” Balzan told the New Zealand Herald.
Other passengers said the pilots noted a light on their dashboard indicating heat and smoke from somewhere within the plane, prompting a nervous end to the journey.
The Qantas Boeing 737 plane touched down in Auckland on Friday morning.Credit: 1News
Sixteen fire trucks from the Auckland area responded to the incident, Stuff reported, with multiple ambulance crews also on the scene.
An Auckland Airport spokesperson said the airfield was now “returning to normal”, and departing and arriving flights could see “slight delays”.
Ambulance staff have treated two passengers for minor conditions, while other paramedic crews have been stood down.
The flight departed Sydney on Friday morning, and landed in Auckland just before midday (New Zealand time).
A mayday call is an urgent distress call issued by pilots over in incidents where life is in immediate danger, triggering emergency protocols and prioritising radio communications with the aircraft.
It differs from the “Pan-Pan” radio call, which indicates an urgent request for assistance to air traffic control, though makes clear that the situation is not an emergency.
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