NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC):

A British Airways jet en route to the Bahamas from the United Kingdom was forced to make an emergency landing in the Canadian province of New Foundland yesterday after the crew members said they smelled smoke in the cockpit, according to a report on www.cananews.net.

Canadian media said the Boeing 767 aircraft with 147 passengers and 16 crew landed safely at the Gander International Airport shortly before midday and left about 90 minutes later, having been given the all clear.

According to reports, the crew did not identify any problems other than the smell of smoke, but search and rescue officials in the eastern province of Canada went into standby mode, asking vessels off the country's Atlantic coast to report their positions, in case their assistance was needed along the plane's flight path.