Plane forced to land in Italy after pilot falls ill

The jet, which had been on its way to Crete from London, was landed safely by the co-pilot, Nuova Venezia reported.

The captain was taken to hospital and is not thought to be in a serious condition.

All passengers were disembarked and are awaiting a new flight to take them to Crete.

The Local has contacted easyJet for a statement.

The incident came just four days after the co-pilot of an American Airlines plane, travelling to the US city of Boston from Phoenix, was forced to make an emergency landing in Syracuse after the captain, Michael Johnston, became ill.

The 57-year-old died shortly after the plane landed. An autopsy and preliminary toxicology tests showed that his death was the result of a natural illness.