Oxygen masks dropped as the AirAsia flight to Bali from Perth plunged 20,000 feet shortly after take-off. (Photo: Screengrab from Channel Nine)

PERTH: An AirAsia flight heading to Bali from Perth plunged 20,000 feet shortly after take-off on Sunday (Oct 15) morning, leaving passengers terrified, Australian media reports said.

Flight QZ 535, with 145 people on board, was forced to turn back just 25 minutes into its journey after the pilot was alerted to a drop in cabin pressure, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

It added that a technical problem had caused the plane to drop from 32,000 feet to 10,000 feet without warning.

Passengers on board the plane took videos of the drama that unfolded, as oxygen masks dropped and passengers held on to their loved ones.

Others on the flight told Channel Nine that they had sent text messages to loved ones, fearing they were going to die.

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