Passengers screamed when oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling onboard a Boeing 737.

The Air Algerie flight had taken off from the Mohamed Boudiaf International Airport Constantine
in Algeria bound for Lyon, France, when it appeared to face pressurisation issues at around 33,000ft.

Footage shows how the oxygen masks were deployed - a possible omen of impending disaster - causing panic among those onboard flight AH 1460.

The pilot turned back the plane to make an emergency landing at the same airport it had departed from on August 25. The plane, registered as 7T-VJO, landed at 11:50am local time.

Officials investigating the incident claimed there were no cabin pressure issues and the masks had been deployed due to a technical glitch.

They said the 'cockpit crew decided to flight turn back' in order 'to ensure the safety of the company's passengers'.