Terrified passengers on that flight described a very loud noise soon after it left Sydney for Shanghai. Pic for Representation/AFP

An AirAsia flight to Malaysia was forced back to Australia yesterday due to a technical problem, with one passenger saying the plane was "shaking like a washing machine". The Airbus A330 from Perth to Kuala Lumpur experienced problems about 90 minutes into the journey. It landed safely, with Perth Airport reporting a "technical issue". "The pilot identified technical issues, turned around and returned," an airport spokesman told AFP, adding that emergency crews were put on standby but not needed.