The man who died on board an Alitalia flight that diverted to Shannon Airport yesterday evening was an elderly American citizen.

It is understood the man suffered a heart attack. He was aged in his 80s.

A second passenger who developed cardiac problems after the crew requested an emergency landing at Shannon is being treated at University Hospital in Limerick.

Gardai are preparing a file on the death of the first passenger for the County Coroner.

Alitalia flight AZ610 from Rome to New York was about 100 kilometres west of Clare when the crew declared an emergency and diverted to Shannon.

Ambulance paramedics and a doctor where standing by for the flight when it touched down around 5:40pm yesterday. However the elderly American man was declared dead at the scene.