Source: Mark Hodgins | www.halifaxtoday.ca

An El Al Israel Airlines flight bound for Tel Aviv from Newark, New Jersey was forced to make an emergency landing in Halifax late on Thursday night.

The diversion to Halifax Stanfield came after reports of smoke in the cockpit of El Al flight #LY26.

Spokesperson for the Halifax International Airport Authority, Tiffany Chase, said the pilot declared an emergency just after 11 p.m.

“That flight did arrive safely,” she said. “Our emergency response team was on standby, ready to respond if needed, but no assistance was required and the pilot was able to taxi to the gate with no issues.”