QFA943: Brisbane to Perth flight circles for hours after air speed dial issue forced diversion

A Qantas plane bound for Perth was diverted to Brisbane and forced to circle for almost three hours due to a “mechanical issue” on Monday night.

Flight QFA943 departed Brisbane about 8.20pm local time before an air speed dial issue was noticed shortly after take-off.

A Qantas spokeswoman said the mechanical issue had led the pilots to circle the aircraft off Brisbane’s coast in order to reduce the fuel load — a measure to ensure the plane “met appropriate landing weights” before safely landing.

The plane was scheduled to land back in Brisbane about 11.10pm local time on Monday.

Qantas said passengers would be accommodated in Brisbane overnight before they embark on a second journey to Perth on Tuesday morning.

The plane will be inspected by aviation engineers after landing.

It comes after a Jetstar flight, which was travelling from Melbourne to Phuket, was diverted to Perth on Sunday after a female passenger allegedly abused staff and other passengers.

Federal police were alerted by airline staff to an incident on Jetstar flight JQ17, before the plane diverted to Perth Airport.

The passenger was removed from the plane by the AFP and later charged with behaving in an offensive and disorderly manner endangering safety on an aircraft.