Pilot declares emergency near Rottnest Island while flying 12 people to Shark Bay

A dozen plane passengers were left terrified in the air near Rottnest Island after the pilot declared an in-flight emergency.

The small commercial aircraft left Jandakot Airport for Shark Bay on Thursday morning but was forced to return after police received a report that the Metro ship twin-engine commercial passenger aircraft was in distress around 8.40am.

Police, St John Ambulance and five DFES crews were on hand to assist at Jandakot Airport.

The plane landed safely around 8.55am and no injuries were reported.