An Air Canada Boeing 777 was forced to turn back shortly after take off from Sydney Airport after smoke was seen issuing from an oven on board.

Flight AC-34 with 262 passengers departed Sydney at 10:25am en route to Vancouver when smoke was spotted half an hour into the flight. Initial reports indicated that a fire in the galley could not be contained and that some passengers were being treated for shock but an Air Canada spokesperson advised that the reports were false and the incident had been exaggerated.

Fuel was dumped over Sydney's northern suburbs before the aircraft returned to the airport and landed safely at 12:15pm.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the incident.