An engine emergency forced a Hamilton-to-Calgary WestJet flight to divert to Toronto, where it landed safely early Thursday.

WestJet flight 585 diverted to Toronto this morning due to a mechanical issue, the airline says. (Carolyn Ryan/CBC)

WestJet Flight 585 left Hamilton's John C. Munro International Airport at 6:51 a.m. ET and declared an emergency a short time after takeoff.

It landed at Toronto's Pearson International Airport at 7:46 a.m.

There were 146 passengers and and six crew on the flight, Calgary-based WestJet confirmed.

The Greater Toronto Airport Authority said there was an engine problem that forced the plane to divert to Toronto.

The airline would only call it a "mechanical issue".

Since the landing, all passengers "have been re-accommodated and are expected to reach their intended destination today," said WestJet.