Packed Airbus A380 from Melbourne suddenly DROPS in altitude and is forced to turn around

A packed Airbus A380 from Melbourne to Vietnam suddenly dropped in altitude and had to turn around after experiencing a technical problem.

VietJet flight VJ82 to Ho Chi Minh City left Melbourne airport at 3am on Thursday and was approaching the South Australia-Northern Territory border when it made a U-turn.

The plane’s altitude dropped slightly before turning and circling over Bendigo, in Victoria’s central west, for about three hours.

The Airbus A330 landed back in Melbourne around 9:30 am.

No emergency services were needed.

The flight has been cancelled.

The Airbus was approaching the border between South Australia and the Northern Territory when it made a U-turn

The plane's altitude dropped slightly before it turned around and circled over Bendigo, in Victoria's central west, for about three hours on Thursday morning (pictured)

The plane’s altitude dropped slightly before it turned around and circled over Bendigo, in Victoria’s central west, for about three hours on Thursday morning (pictured)