Qantas plane forced to turn around after passenger refuses to put device on 'flight mode'

A Qantas pilot was left with no choice but to turn a plane around when a stubborn passenger refused to put a device on "flight mode".

The passenger aboard the flight is believed to be a company chief executive who was using a tablet device as the plane readied for take-off on the Melbourne-bound flight at Canberra Airport on Friday night.

Qantas has confirmed a passenger on flight QF2133 “did not follow instruction with regard to an electronic device”, 3AW reported.

The airline said safety was its biggest priority and revealed the pilot was forced to return the plane to the gate.

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The plane eventually landed in Melbourne but is believed to have been over one hour late.

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