A "bomb scare" on a flight bound for Bangkok has forced travellers to make an unexpected stop in Brisbane.

Emirates flight EK419 took off from Sydney on Thursday night bound for the Thai capital but was forced to land at Brisbane Airport after flight attendants discovered a "suspect package" on board.

The Emirates flight was forced to land at Brisbane Airport. Credit:Boeing

In text messages to publisher AltMedia's City Hub, former Sydney deputy Lord Mayor Dixie Coulton said she had "never seen flight attendants so freaked out".

"(They) gathered all the blankets pillows and put at back of plane," she said.