Latest report says an Emirates flight full of 309 passengers has been forced into an emergency landing after the plane was filled with smoke in mid-air.

Flight EK652 was en-route from Dubai to Male when it declared an emergency, Express.co.uk reports.

It was gathered that the aircraft, a Boeing777 was forced to land in Mumbai, India.

A Mumbai airport official said: “The ATC declared full emergency at the MIAL (Mumbai International Airport Limited) at 1359 hrs after a Boeing 777 flight of Emirates (EK 652) from Dubai to Male had to make an emergency landing following detection of smoke in the aircraft.”

It was also learnt that the Coast Guard rushed ships out on stand-by in case the plane was not able to cross the sea to reach the international airport.