A stricken Australian yachtsman has been rescued after he was spotted by passengers on board a Boeing 777 passenger plane travelling over the sea.

Forty-four-year-old Australian Glenn Ey was hit by a huge wave which broke the boat's mast.

The search for him began on Tuesday morning after the emergency beacon was activated.

An Air Canada Boeing 777 flying from Vancouver to Sydney was asked to divert to the area where the emergency beacon was and assess the situation.

"I did hear the jet, I was down below, I did hear the jet," said Ey.

He was eventually taken back to Sydney on board a police patrol boat, where he was greeted by his relieved parents.