According to the airline, on Monday an Air Canada plane made a forced landing in Ireland when its co-pilot became sick in the cockpit.

The plane took off from Toronto and was heading to England.

According to passenger reports, the co-pilot needed psychiatric care. In order to do this the plane was forced to land at the Shannon airport, CBS News reports.

One Canadian passenger said that an hour before the flight the co-pilot acted distraught.

Seàn Finucane said: "He was yelling loudly at times. When they tried to put his shoes on later, for example, he swore and threatened people … He was swearing and asking for God, and was very, very distressed."

Airline spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick didn’t say any details about the personnel but confirmed pilot’s decision to land on Shannon airport.

He said that the plane landed without any incident.

"At no time were the safety of the passengers or crew in question," he added.

Apparently the co-pilot was taken off the plane by force by his colleagues and one passenger.

According to officials at Shannon International Airport, the co-pilot was at the psychiatric unit of the Ennis General Hospital.

The situation was confirmed by Air Canada, but no details were given.

The 146 passengers were taken to hotels and five hours later they were put on another flight that flew in from London's Heathrow Airport, according to Patrick Flynn, a freelance journalist in Shannon.

Spokeswoman Lucie Vignola said Tuesday that the crew and the airline will be questioned by transport Canada.

She says that commercial pilots undergo every six months medical checkups that are required by their license.

The Air Canada Pilots Association with 3,300 members issued a statement saying: "ACPA has sent a fellow pilot to assist in whatever way is required,"

Capt. Andy Wilson, president of the association, said in an interview: "As we train for many emergencies never seen in a pilot's entire career, this is just one more that we train for. Although it's a two-pilot aircraft, either one could certainly perform the operation and land the aircraft," nationalpost.com informs.