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(Image: STAM ALS)

The Turkish Airlines flight TK1617 from Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen airport diverted to Nuremberg Airport.

It was en route to Frankfurt when the pilot contacted air traffic control.

(Image: AIRLIVE.COM)

Photos emerging on social media appear to show emergency services on the runway preparing for the flight to land at the airport.

The plane made an emergency diversion after a mobile phone was discovered in the cabin, according to reports.

The Boeing 737-800 can hold up to 189 passengers.

(Image: GETTY)

It comes as Turkey's relationship with Russia teeters perilously on the brink after it shot down a fighter jet last week – prompting fears of an impending World War 3.

Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davuto?lu said the military did its job protecting its airspace and offered no apology to Russian president Vladimir Putin for downing the jet.

The SU-24 fighter jet was downed by Turkey despite repeated requests to leave the airspace.

It led to Russian colonel Vladimir Zhirinovsky calling for Putin to launch a nuclear strike on Istanbul.