A man is recovering in hospital in Canada after the Aer Lingus flight on which he fell ill was forced to make an unscheduled landing late last night.

Sunday evenings Aer Lingus flight EI-110 from New York to Shannon diverted to Gander International Airport in Newfoundland about two hours after departure.

DIVERSION @AerLingus #EI110 New York to Shannon diverted to @GanderAirport pic.twitter.com/T0hdrPi2M0

— Tom Podolec CTV News (@TomPodolec) April 25, 2016

The crew declared a medical emergency after a man on board was reported to have lost consciousness.

Its understood there was a doctor on the flight who tended to the ill man. The medic advised the crew to divert so that urgent medical attention could be sought for the passenger.

The Boeing 757-200 jet, with 88 passengers on board, landed in Gander and was met by emergency medical services.

The passenger was removed to hospital for treatment.

The flight, which was due in Shannon at 6am today, touched down shortly after 8.30am.

Last December, an Aer Lingus flight from Shannon to New York diverted to Gander after a passenger fell ill.