Jetstar flight met by fire trucks after turning back to Sydney Airport

A Jetstar flight has been turned back to Sydney Airport and was met by emergency services after a "strange smell" was detected on board.

JQ517, which departed for Melbourne at 2.02pm on Sunday, was turned back after about 10 minutes when the smell was found.

The Airbus A321 landed on the runway about 2.30pm.

One witness said the plane pulled up on a vacant taxiway as "firetrucks and emergency crews rushed to the scene".

Photos showed at least four fire trucks heading towards the plane, which then surrounded it as it arrived back at the terminal.

Airservices, which operates aviation firefighting at Sydney Airport, said the pilot "reported a strange smell or odour on board" and turned back as a precaution.

"From my understanding the air traffic controllers decided to let aviation rescue fire fighting know," a spokeswoman said. "No emergency was declared."

Engineers were inspecting the plane on Sunday afternoon.

A Jetstar spokesman said the captain elected to return to Sydney "a short time after take-off due to reports of an unusual smell at the rear of the cabin".

"The flight had a normal landing at Sydney Airport," the spokesman said.

"We're working to re-accommodate customers on alternative flights this afternoon."