BA said the pilot landed as 'precaution' and apologised for delay

Passengers claim they were told crew had fallen ill due to the stench

A flight packed with British holidaymakers on their way to Greece was forced to make an emergency landing after an overpowering smell of cannabis filled the cabin.

The 8.15am flight from Gatwick to Heraklion in Crete was diverted over Paris and forced to return to the UK after passengers were told crew had fallen ill after the 'unmistakable' stench filled the plane.

The plane returned to Gatwick just 90 minutes after setting off and the 174 passengers on board were forced to wait for an hour while another flight was hastily arranged.

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The 8.15 flight from Gatwick to Heraklion in Crete was diverted over Paris and forced to return to the UK after passengers were told crew had fallen ill after the 'unmistakable' stench filled the plane (file image)

Although fire crews inspected the British Airways plane to find the source of the smell, the cause and source remains unknown.

Father-of-two Stuart Barnes, 40, from Cardiff, was on board the plane with wife Susan, 43, and daughters Rosie, ten, and Olivia, nine.

Finance worker Mr Barnes, from Cardiff, told The Sun: 'There was a faint smell when we got on.

'We were told that they hoped when they put the air conditioning on it would clear, but it got even stronger. You could tell straightaway what it was.

'BA have been very quiet at giving us an explanation - all they said was the cabin crew was ill from a pungent smell at the back of the aircraft.'

Holidaymaker Simon Skinner posted on Twitter: 'British Airways flight to Heraklion turned back after nasty smell.'

As a result of the diversion and emergency landing British tourists in Crete were delayed by up to six hours.

A BA spokesman said no evidence of cannabis or anybody smoking cannabis was found on board.

She said: 'Our pilot returned the aircraft to Gatwick as a precaution following reports of an unidentified strong smell in the cabin.