A Qantas flight to Perth was diverted to Adelaide when a mysterious smell was detected mid-flight.
Flight QF857 had departed Canberra on Friday evening when crew and passengers reported noticing an unusual, mechanical odour inside the cabin.
As a precaution, the aircraft was diverted to Adelaide, where it made a priority landing shortly after 1am, despite the airport being outside normal curfew hours.
Several passengers reported feeling unwell, with some describing a metallic taste and strong fumes in parts of the aircraft.
Paramedics were called to assess travellers on arrival, although no serious injuries were reported.
The late-night diversion created logistical challenges for those on board. With the flight arriving after curfew and accommodation in high demand due to major events in the city, many passengers were unable to secure hotel rooms.
A number of travellers spent the night inside the Qantas lounge at the airport, trying to rest until onward flights became available the following morning.
Qantas said the diversion was a precautionary measure and apologised to customers for the disruption.
The airline confirmed passengers were rebooked on services departing Adelaide on Saturday morning, eventually continuing their journey to Perth.
Engineers inspected the aircraft overnight and cleared it to return to service, with the airline emphasising that safety remained its top priority.
