BREAKING: Qantas flight issues midair mayday call

Victor Pody shot this Qantas 737, VH-VXE flying past ATC at Melbourne

A Qantas flight travelling from Auckland to Sydney has issued a mayday call.

Current reports cite the cause of Qantas Flight QF144 making the call as an engine malfunction.

The Boeing 737, which is believed to be carrying over 100 people, issued the call at around 2:10pm. The plane landed at roughly 3:30pm after being expected to land at 3:10pm.

Takeoff was delayed by 55 minutes at Auckland Airport.

NSW paramedics awaited the plane’s arrival at Sydney Airport, according to a statement.

Sydney Airport’s emergency crews were also on standby.

Whilst authorities have remained mostly quiet on the issue, a spokesperson from Qantas has said that the mayday alert has been downgraded.

“While a mayday was initially issued, this has now been downgraded to a Pan (possible assistance needed). We will share more information about this incident once the aircraft is on the ground and has been assessed by our engineers.”