An Air New Zealand flight from Auckland to Sydney has been forced to return to the gate after an engine started smoking.

TVNZ reporter Andrea Vance, a passenger on the NZ103 flight, described a "strange acrid smell" in the cabin before the plane ceased its taxi.

The Sydney-bound flight was forced to return to Auckland. Photo: Twitter: @avancenz

Vance reported smoke coming from the right engine, and said fire crews were following the plane.

Another passenger, Eve Tyson, said the smell was detected just after the safety video had finished playing.

"All of a sudden there was a strong smell of smoke, a bit like the smell that comes after you've let off a firearm or firecrackers. It lasted at least a couple of minutes," she said.

Tyson said the crew kept passengers calm and they did not realise a fire crew had come out to meet the plane until it was parked.

They were waiting for another flight, due to take off at 11.30am, she said.

Air New Zealand said in a statement NZ103 returned to the gate after an "engineering issue" was detected while the aircraft was taxiing to the runway.

The aircraft was being inspected by engineers, the airline said.

"We are currently working through options for re-accommodating customers booked to travel on this service."

Flight tracking website, Flight Radar, showed the airplane returning to the terminal.

Flight tracking website, Flight Radar, showed the airplane returning to the terminal. Photo: Flight Radar

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