A transatlantic flight was diverted to Shannon this evening after a passenger on board was reported to have fallen ill, writes Patrick Flynn.

United Airlines flight UA-2078 was travelling from Athens in Greece to Newark in New Jersey at the time.

The flight was about three hours into its journey and an hour north west of Shannon when the crew opted to turn around and divert.

The Boeing 767-300 jet landed in Shannon at 6.17pm and was met at the terminal by ambulance service paramedics.

The patient was treated at the airport before being removed by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick for further treatment.

The flight has since been cancelled as the crew would have exceeded their legally permitted duty hours if they had continued to the US.

It is expected that the flight will continue its journey tomorrow.

Last year, a total of of 27 flights diverted to Shannon with ill patients while this year so far, 13 aircraft have made unscheduled landings at the mid west airport after declaring medical emergencies.