Pilot Tells Passengers To Pray Mid-Flight

Air Asia officials say they are investigating what caused a technical failure that sent a packed flight on a so-called 'mercy dash' back to Perth Airport on one engine.

More than 350 passengers were told by the pilot to "pray" they would make it back to Australia safely, after the plane started to shake violently just one and a half hours into a trip to Kuala Lumpur.

Emergency services at the airport were told to prepare with some passengers described hearing a loud bang, before shaking of the fuselage.