“Smoky” Air Canada flight to Vancouver returns to Sydney, Australia (UPDATES)

An Air Canada flight headed to Vancouver has reportedly dumped fuel and returned safely to Sydney, Australia after smoke was detected on board, reportedly coming from an oven in the plane's galley.

Early reports said that the plane had "caught fire," sparking concern about the Boeing 777's condition.

Shortly after flight AC34 left Sydney at 10:25 a.m. local time, en route to Vancouver and Toronto, smoke was noticed in the cabin, the Canadian Press reports.

Jeannie Foster, Air Canada's general manager for Australia and New Zealand, told the Sydney Morning Herald that the smoke was detected coming from an oven in the aircraft's galley.

(More from GlobalPost: Air Canada warns of delays as customer service staff go on strike)

(More from GlobalPost: Why is Zimbabwe's national airline called Scare Zimbabwe?)

Australian media initially reported that a fire broke out in the galley that could not be contained.

The plane, carrying 267 passengers, dumped fuel in Hornsby and Longreef, north of Sydney, just before noon local time.

It then returned to Sydney airport where it landed safely, with fire and ambulance crews waiting on the tarmac.Maintenance crows are now working establish the exact cause of the smoke.

A spokesman for Sydney airport confirmed that flight AC34 had returned to Sydney, but could not confirm reports of a fire, according to the Associated Press.

The flight had been scheduled to land at Vancouver International Airport at 7:30 a.m. Thursday and then continue to Toronto for a 4:15 p.m. arrival.

Two years ago, 15 people were injured when an Air Canada flight from Sydney to Vancouver hit severe turbulence caused by a thunderstorm near Honolulu.