Panic has broken out on-board an outward bound aeroplane on Anzac Day after the aircraft lost power before takeoff in Perth.
AirAsia flight QZ533 was due to depart Western Australia about 3am on Thursday when it suffered power failure while on the tarmac.
A passenger told Nine News people began crying and struggling to breathe on board the plane bound for Jakarta, Indonesia.
The passenger claimed 17 passengers were offloaded and that they had been stranded without any help from airline staff.
A spokesperson for Perth airport confirmed the passengers had voluntarily disembarked the plane following “technical issues”.
“We had been advised of a technical issue at the airport as the aircraft departed just before 3am,” the spokesperson said.
“It is due to land shortly. We’re not aware of what the issue was and we cannot comment on the airline (AirtAsia) specifically”.
The aeroplane had left Australia and was over the Indian Ocean shortly before 8am, according to flight tracking service Flight Aware.
It had departed an hour late according to Flight Aware, and was scheduled to arrive at Jakarta airport more than an hour and a half late.
AirAsia have been contacted for comment.