Qantas Flight 144 was forced to abort its journey between Auckland International Airport (AKL) and Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) after an engine malfunction was reported. The flight was scheduled to depart at 13:35 NZDT, but eventually departed at 14:30. At 16:10 NZDT, the aircraft issued a 'mayday' call, and eventually landed at 15:26 AEST (17:26 NZDT). Passengers on board the flight were informed of the situation and were provided with assistance as the aircraft returned to Auckland. The aircraft landed safely and all passengers were unharmed. Qantas has released a statement saying that the malfunction was caused by a faulty engine part, and that the issue has been rectified. The airline has also expressed its gratitude to the crew for their quick response in dealing with the situation. The incident is currently under investigation, and Qantas has promised to keep passengers informed of any updates.