Passengers on board an Air New Zealand flight at the centre of a bomb scare say the cabin crew began opening all the overhead lockers mid-flight “as if they were looking for something”.
Emergency crews rushed to Sydney International Airport in response to reports of a security incident on Air New Zealand flight NZ247 from Wellington, which landed about 5.39pm on Saturday.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Passengers aboard NZ247 were unaware of the bomb scare.
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The plane was grounded for over an hour at Sydney Airport as the security incident was investigated.
Over 150 passengers were stuck on the tarmac and say they found out via social media they were at the centre of the frightening emergency.
“Flight crews came around mid-flight, and they were opening up all the overhead lockers and then shutting them … as if they were looking for something,” passenger Mercury Lin told 7NEWS.
“I think it’s probably good they handled it they way they did because imagine if the panic if they’re like, ‘oh there’s a bomb on board’.”
The aircraft was isolated at the end of a runway away from the airport’s terminals, an AFP spokesperson said.
“A thorough search of the aircraft, as well as the luggage and all passengers on board, was undertaken and nothing suspicious was found.
“Investigations are continuing, the AFP will provide updates at the appropriate time.”
One passenger reported that a note found on board may have caused the emergency.
“There may have been a note on the plane — that is what caused this — so we all sort of gathered the note had been picked up on the plane,” passenger Penny Nel told the NZ Herald.
Passengers were also reportedly taken to a room and told to line up with their luggage while police sniffer dogs carried out inspections, the NZ Herald reported.
“Lots of police and ambulance appeared on the side of the plane, and we wondered what was going on,” another passenger said.
“We really didn’t realise it was to do with us.”
Investigations are ongoing.