Passengers on board a Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta to Bermuda that was forced to turn back yesterday due to mechanical problems were thankful for the precaution when they finally arrived last night.

As people streamed out of the airport some three hours later than scheduled, they said Delta Airlines did the right thing in making the decision to turn around after just 20 minutes into the flight.

The pilot of flight 354, which was due to arrive into Bermuda at about 3.30 p.m. yesterday, made the decision to head back to Atlanta after he smelled burning in the cockpit.

A Delta spokeswoman said his decision was only a precaution, and passengers were able to get on a different aircraft and arrive on the Island just three hours later than planned.

She said: "The report I have is that the captain had an indication of a smoky odour in the cabin and thought it was related to the air conditioning, so he decided to turn back for maintenance."

When the 260 plus passengers arrived in Bermuda soon after 6.30 p.m. last night, they seemed relaxed and happy to be here - admitting that Monday's events, in which an American Airlines jet crashed into a housing estate in Queens, New York, killing more than 260 people, had played on their minds.

One passenger, who did not wish to be named, said he had been told that a couple of people at the back of the aircraft had got upset and anxious when the plane turned around.

But most of the passengers who spoke to The Royal Gazette last night said the decision to turn around had not led to panic, and most people seemed in agreement with the safety precaution.

Bussie Ible, a resident from Hamilton Parish, had been on holiday in the US and was returning home. He said: "I was surprised that nobody got upset. The atmosphere was really calm.

"But I was very glad they turned back, and was even more glad they had decided to change planes. I would not have got back on that plane and would have stayed overnight in Atlanta, if I had had to."

Candace King, from Kansas City in Missouri, flew into Bermuda on a short vacation to join her husband Jim, who is playing for the US in the Bermuda Rugby Classic.

She said: "It was no problem at all. People just went to the pub and had beers - nobody was upset. It's better to be safe than sorry, so we appreciated the airline's concern."

And resident Mary Walker said she, too, was thankful for the airline's "professionalism".

She said: "The flight turned back after 20 minutes because of a mechanical problem with the air conditioning.

"Everybody was very calm - there was no panic. Delta was very good - their professionalism helped."

And another man, who was visiting the Island on business from Seattle, but who did not wish to be named, said he was sit over one of the wings of the plane and witnessed as the pilot had to dump fuel before returning to Atlanta.

He said: "Delta did the smart thing. The pilot didn't have to turn back, but he took the precaution and I think the passengers really appreciated that, especially after the last couple of days."