Four passengers and two crew escaped unhurt yesterday when their private jet made an emergency landing at Bermuda International Airport after smoke was spotted coming from the cockpit.

The Canadian-registered Lear Jet took off shortly before noon and was about 15 minutes into the flight - believed to be to Montreal - when the pilot spotted the smoke and told air traffic control he needed to make an emergency landing.

The jet returned to Bermuda and landed safely at around 12.15 p.m., said Airport Operations Manager Lester Nelson.

He could not confirm if there was a fire onboard the jet and he would not disclose the names of the passengers on the jet.

"There was a private aircraft that reported technical difficulties and returned to Bermuda and made an emergency landing." he said.

"The people are OK and the aircraft is being tended by the emergency services. It's on the ground in one piece and I haven't heard a condition report on the people. It was significant enough for the pilot to declare an emergency.

"The pilot advised air traffic control that there was smoke in the cockpit, but I can't confirm if it was a fire."