A British Airways plane has been forced to make an emergency landing in Italy after the cockpit filled up with smoke.

The BA2596 flight carrying 51 passengers took off from Gatwick Airport, in London, with two pilots and five flight attendants in the morning hours of Monday, 23rd January.

But when the alarm was triggered by smoke that reportedly filled the cockpit, the pilot decided to make an emergency landing at Valerio Catullo Airport in the city of Verona, Italy.

The airport which serves a population of more than 4 million inhabitants is situated next to the junction of A4 Milan-Venice and A22 Modena-Brenner motorways.

It reportedly covers the provinces of Verona, Brescia, Mantua (Mantova) and Trentino-Alto Adige also known as Trentino-South Tyrol.

The plane landed safely with no reports of any injuries to passengers or the cabin crew.

A British Airways spokesperson said: “Our pilots requested a priority landing in Verona as a precaution due to a minor technical issue.

“The aircraft landed normally and customers disembarked as usual.”

Valerio Catullo Airport officials said: “This morning British Airways flight BA2596 from London to Verona requested a priority landing.

“Following the request, the control tower activated the airport local stand by procedure and mobilised, as usual, the airport security staff, for any prompt intervention.

“The aircraft, on board which there were 51 passengers and seven crew members, made a regular landing.

“Normal routine checks are in progress.

“The incident did not have any consequences on the passengers and on the airport’s operations.”