MELBOURNE, Fla. – A Delta Air Lines flight was forced to make an emergency landing Monday at Melbourne Orlando International Airport .

The airline said Flight 305, traveling from Fort Lauderdale to New York’s JFK Airport, was diverted due to reports of a smoky odor in the first class area of the cabin.

The plane, an Airbus A321 carrying 170 people including the crew, was safely evacuated.

Delta said maintenance teams were inspecting the aircraft.

“Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and of our people,” Delta said in a statement. “We apologize to those who are experiencing a delay in their travel plans.”

The passengers were “reaccommodated” and later landed at JFK Airport, the airline said.

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