Boeing 737 in emergency landing at Ireland's Cork Airport due to 'suspected fuel leak'

The Air Contractors Limited flight was carrying 144 passengers at the time

File: A Boeing 737 was forced to make an emergency landing at Cork Airport last night (Getty Images)

A Boeing 737 with 144 passengers and six crew has been forced to make an emergency landing due to a "suspected fuel leak" at Cork Airport.

The drama happened shortly before midnight at Cork Airport in Ireland.

The pilot of the holiday flight from Belfast to Reus in Spain declared the emergency landing because of a suspected fuel leak, an airport spokesman said.

"We activated our emergency plan but the plane landed safely," the spokesman said.

"The plane is grounded subject to inspection but it's not thought there was a leak."

The passengers, flying with Air Contractors Limited, were being accommodated in hotels overnight.

It is expected they will be able to get away on their holidays today.

PA