Flight with 195 passengers from Lisbon to London forced to make ’emergency landing’ after it ‘fills with smoke’

A LISBON to London plane has been diverted to Porto because of “smoke on board.”

Emergency services rushed to the Tap Air plane after it landed at the Portuguese city after an alert was sounded at around 4.45pm.

Portuguese Civil Protection sources told respected Portuguese daily Correio da Manha: “There are 194 passengers on board and crew and passengers are in need of urgent medical assistance.”

Cops, firefighters, Red Cross officials and paramedics all rushed to the scene.

Other planes were ordered to remain in the air for permission to land as the aircraft made an emergency landing.

It emerged several people had been taken to hospital following the mid-air drama.

Portuguese daily Correio da Manha said nine people had suffered smoke inhalation and been hospitalised and another two passengers had been assisted by medical responders next to the aircraft.

The airline could not be reached last night to confirm the casualty figures and the nationalities of those who required medical treatment is not yet known.

A TAP spokesman had earlier said the plane was diverted to Porto because of a “technical issue and landed safely” saying passengers would be put on another aircraft so they could reach their intended destination as soon as possible.