Qantas flight issues a MAYDAY call following a reported engine failure

A Qantas flight has issued a midair mayday call after suffering reported engine failure while on its way to Sydney from Auckland.

NSW Ambulance is on standby at Sydney Airport, with the Boeing 737-800 due to land in the city at 3.28pm this afternoon.

As of 3.01pm, the plane had descended to 20,000ft – significantly below its planned altitude of 38,000ft. 

The mayday call was made approximately halfway through the flight to Sydney, that takes just over three hours.  

An alert from emergency services said: ‘NSW Ambulance paramedics are responding to a May Day alert issued by flight QF144 from Auckland. The plane is due at Sydney Airport.’

The flight number is QF144, with the plane holding up to 168 passengers. 

An aviation expert said: ‘QF144 has been on a gentle descent for 1.5 hours. At 21,000 feet currently doing 400knots. 

‘Normal would be 38,000 feet at about 450-480knots.  This may suggest the plane is being nursed into Sydney.’

More to come. 

Flight Radar indicated the flight, travelling from Auckland to Sydney, is currently over the water

Emergency services are responding after a Qantas flight travelling from Auckland to Sydney issued a mayday alert