Airliner in emergency landing

The American Airlines' Boeing 767 had taken off from Paris and was being handled by UK air traffic control company Nats when the cockpit

crew requested permission to divert.

The plane landed safely at Keflavik airport where airport spokesman Fridthor Eydal said several passengers had complained of dizziness.

An American Airlines spokesman said the plane, with 133 passengers and 12 crew aboard, had left Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris at 10.38am UK time and had been due to arrive at Dallas/Fort Worth in Texas at 9.20pm UK time.

Five crew members were reported to have become ill following reports of chemical fumes in the cabin.

The five crew members were in the cooking area of the Boeing 767-300 when they became ill, Civil Protection Agency officials said in a statement.

Eight ambulances and health department were sent to the airport.

American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith added that maintenance workers in Iceland were trying to find out what happened.

The airline intended to send a plane from London to collect the passengers and crew to take them on to Texas.