The plane was diverted to Manila from Hong Kong.

Passengers said they heard a loud bang as the aircraft lost pressure and oxygen masks dropped.

Kim Jeffers said her husband Jason rang her from Manila to say that he had landed safely after the mid-air drama.

A Melbourne father spoke to his daugthers who were on the flight. They told him the plane was forced to make an emergency landing.

A Qantas spokeswoman refused to confirm what had happened during the flight but said the flight had been diverted.