More than 100 passengers on board a Virgin Australia flight from Melbourne to Sydney had a shorter than usual journey, after the captain detected an unusual smell.


The flight, which left at 8.56am on Tuesday, returned to Melbourne Airport at 9.09am, as a precautionary measure in line with standard operating procedures, an airline spokeswoman said.


The captain discovered an unusual odour in the cabin, the spokeswoman said, and decided to return the flight to Melbourne.


The landing was safe and not an emergency, and all 129 passengers were put on alternative flights to Sydney, she said.


The spokeswoman apologised to passengers for any inconvenience. Engineers are investigating the incident.