Passengers on board a First Air Boeing 737 airplane that made a precautionary landing at the Ottawa International Airport say crew members deserve credit for keeping calm during the ordeal.

Flight FAB 860 departed from Ottawa at 9:05 a.m. for Iqaluit, Nunavut. It returned to the Ottawa airport shortly after departure and made the precautionary landing at 11:27 a.m.

The plane was carrying 31 passengers, two pilots and three flight attendants.

The airplane circled the airport and burned fuel for about an hour before landing.

Passengers told CTV News they were instructed to follow emergency landing procedures and had to put their heads between their knees while landing.

Once the plane came to a stop on the ground, passengers said they broke out into a loud round of applause.

First Air spokesperson Chris Ferris says the decision to turn the plane around was made after an indication that there was a possible irregular flap operation problem.

Flaps are moveable surfaces hinged to the back end of the wing. They increase lift, decrease the stall speed and give pilots more control during take-off and landing.

"Weather wasn't a factor," he said.

Emergency crews stood by in the minutes leading up to the landing and said they weren't sure what to expect.

Retired Air Canada pilot Vince Sharron told CTV News the decision to return to Ottawa was likely an easy choice because of the airport's lengthy runways.

Aviation expert Mark Miller told CTV Newsnet the precautions the pilots took were standard.

"By having all that fuel gone and all that weight gone . . . you're able to stop the airplane more quickly," said Miller.

Ferris says the airplane is now being reviewed by mechanics.

Passengers who were on the flight are now scheduled to arrive in Iqaluit on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

First Air is the third largest scheduled carrier in Canada, focusing on passenger and cargo transportation to northern Canada.

The company has a fleet of 20 aircraft and services 25 northern communities with connections to Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg and Edmonton.

The company introduced Boeing 737s for passengers travelling between Ottawa and the North nearly three years ago.

More than 5,000 Boeing 737s have been built since the aircraft was first released in 1967.

Over the 41 years the plane has been in operation, the aircraft has generally had a good safety record.