A Boeing 777 flight from New York to London had to be cancelled after passengers and crew became alarmed by a pungent smell.
A photograph has emerged showing five emergency services staff boarding the plane after the airline dramatically cancelled the transAtlantic flight on Tuesday night.
Hundreds of passengers were in their seats on BA flight 176 when it was dramatically diverted back to JFK.
A spokesman for BA described the incident as a 'technical issue'.
'The aircraft was in the air for around 30 minutes or so before the pilots decided to return to JFK as a precaution,' said the spokesman. 'Some of the passengers had noticed a particularly strong smell.
As a precaution, the flight was diverted back to JFK airport.'
Five emergency services staff boarded the plan on Tuesday night to investigate the smell
Passengers noticed the smell shortly after the plane left JFK airport in New York (stock picture)
British Airways said passengers put up in a hotel and boarded the flight the next day (stock picture)
Police and the fire crew came onboard to investigate in New York but were unable to detect any harmful fumes, said the spokesman.
After being put up in a hotel for the night by the airline, JetBlack the passengers boarded the same aircraft the next day for the return flight to Heathrow after it had been given the all-clear by the authorities.
A spokesperson for British Airways said: 'The safety of our customers and crew is always our priority and will never be compromised.'
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