By Patrick Flynn

An Aer Lingus flight from New York to Dublin was forced to divert to an airport in Canada this morning after a passenger was reported to have fallen ill.

Flight EI-104 was just two hours into its journey when the crew declared a medical emergency shortly after 12.30am Irish time.

The Airbus A330-300 jet was routing over Newfoundland when the pilot confirmed to controllers that they wished to divert to St John’s.

The crew requested emergency medical services be standing by for their arrival.

The aircraft landed shortly after 1am (Irish time) and taxied to the terminal where it was met by ambulance paramedics.

The flight was originally due in Dublin at 5am but was delayed by almost three hours as a result of the unscheduled landing in Newfoundland.

The flight continued its journey shortly before 4.00am Irish time once the aircraft had been refuelled and a new flight plan was filed.