Passengers evacuated a plane on slides after it was forced to return to its departure airport and the cabin filled with smoke.

Flyers were told to leave the Qantas aircraft on emergency slides when it arrived back in Sydney, Australia.

Qantas said flight 575 due for Perth returned shortly after takeoff due to a hydraulic issue.

“Once back at the gate, the captain made the decision to evacuate the aircraft as a precaution and three emergency slides were deployed,” the airline said.

It said passengers were evacuated through both the slides and normal exits.

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“They came and got us to the gate and everything was fine. And next thing he [the pilot] goes, evacuate, evacuate, evacuate, like in a calm but firm, loud voice,” said passenger Niamh Champion.

“So instantly everyone jumps off and they’re thinking ‘oh my God’. I thought there was smoke, or a fire or, you know, something was happening, and I was relatively close to the back of the plane.”

People rushed into the isle when the hostess opened the door and the chute came down, according to Ms Champion.

She said she had to jump out before her two young children followed her lead.

“Otherwise we’d be holding up the whole line of people on a possible plane that’s full of smoke,” she said.

Debbie Slade, the Qantas fleet safety captain, said that once the plane was on the ground, it was towed to the gate.

“Once they’re at the gate, I believe there was some indications of a mist inside the cabin. So the crew took the conservative option and agreed to evacuate the aircraft,” she said.