'Loud banging noises': Malaysia Airlines flight from Sydney makes emergency landing in NT

A Malaysia Airlines flight from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur has been forced to make an emergency landing in Alice Springs due to "technical reasons".

The husband of a passenger onboard the flight said his wife described the experience as “hell”.

In a statement, Malaysia Airlines said flight MH122 departed Sydney Airport at 1.06pm and was scheduled to arrive at 6.30pm.

But the flight had to be re-routed to Alice Springs “due to technical reasons” and landed at Alice Springs Airport at 5.48pm.

The airline said “safety at all times” is its “number one priority”.

Passenger Chin Kanani, who was on board the flight with his wife, told the ABC she became alarmed when she heard a banging sound.

"She said she was on the loo when she started hearing loud banging noises from the right-hand side of the plane and that's when all it started," Mr Kanani said.

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Mohamad Zogheib, 17, who was also on board, said the pilot informed passengers the plane had to make an emergency landing and passengers were warned to "brace for impact."

Passenger Maryna Delport Evetts said engine problems had been blamed for the diversion.

"So just when you think this would never happen to you or it just happens in the movies, on our flight back home, four hours into the journey we had engine failure," Ms Evetts posted to Facebook.

"We turned back and we are now sitting at the Airport in Alice Springs. Not too sure when we will be leaving but hey ho, we are on terra firma.

"Not a good feeling 10,000 feet up in the air."

About 200 passengers were on board the flight at the time.