An easyJet plane was forced to make an emergency landing after being damaged by a popping champagne cork.

The cork smashed ceiling panels after a stewardess opened the bottle for a customer. It caused oxygen masks to drop from the ceiling.

The plane was halfway through a four hour flight from London Gatwick to Dalaman, Turkey. The pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in Italy for repairs.

One passenger said: “It wasn’t very funny at the time but I can see the lighter side now.

“All that hassle, delay and money wasted by easyJet — all over a champagne cork! No one on the flight could believe it and people I have spoken to have found it hilarious.”

The flight, which took off at 4.20pm on August 7, was diverted via Milan so the masks could be reset.