A plane headed to Puerto Rico from Philadelphia was diverted to Bermuda on Saturday afternoon after smoke was detected in the cabin.

The Island's air traffic controllers received a call at about 4.30 p.m. advising that the US Airways flight had declared a full emergency.

Nearby public roads were closed off to all traffic as Police, fire engines and ambulances rushed to runway 30 at L.F. Wade International Airport, where the airplane was cleared to land.

The Airbus 320 had 65 passengers and six crew on board and all were moved to the front of the aircraft as a precautionary measure. The plane landed at about 5 p.m. and all passengers got off unharmed.

Morgan Durrant, spokesman for US Airways, which uses the Airbus 320 on each of its four flights to Bermuda, said the emergency was declared out of "extreme precaution" because of reports of an "electrical burn smell".

Airport manager Aaron Adderley said: "Once cleared and with the airport Fire Department standing ready, mechanics from ASB (Aviation Services Bermuda) boarded the aircraft and discovered a passenger entertainment unit located underneath one of the seats, had shorted out causing electrical smoke to filtrate the cabin.

"Once the unit was disabled and isolated from the rest of the aircraft's entertainment system, mechanics determined that the aircraft was safe to continue its flight."

The flight took off for San Juan just after 7.30 p.m., arriving about three hours late at its destination.