Sydney-bound flight aborted after passengers report smoke from engine

An Air NZ flight from Auckland to Sydney was forced to abort moments before take off after passengers reported smoke. A reporter on the flight described a "strange acrid smell" in the cabin before the plane ceased its taxi. Another passenger said the smell was detected just after the safety video had finished playing. She 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 NZ103 returned to the gate after an "engineering issue" was detected while the aircraft was taxiing to the runway. <br/>