A domestic flight in French Polynesia made an unscheduled landing after smoke was detected on the ATR aircraft.
The Air Tahiti flight from Bora Bora landed on nearby Raiatea without incident.
Reports say most passengers were due to take a connecting international flight from Tahiti.
However, they were forced to spend the night in Raiatea where emergency accommodation needed to found because the island's hotels were full.
Raiatea is gearing up for festivities to mark its Taputapuatea marae's inclusion on Unesco's World Heritage list.
Air Tahiti plane Photo: RNZI/Walter Zweifel