Palm Beach International Airport Director of Operations Robert McNamara said shortly after takeoff, the flight headed to New York conducted an emergency return to the airport after passengers and pilots noticed the smell of smoke, The Palm Beach (Fla.) Post said.

McNamara said while no one on the plane reported seeing smoke, the emergency landing was a necessary precaution.

"You do not take any chances in a case like this," he told the Post. "It is much better to inconvenience people a little and bring it back."

After landing the plane at the airport Thursday morning, the 120 passengers on board were evacuated and rebooked on different flights, McNamara said.

The airport official said fire rescue teams were called to the airport as a precaution as the search for the source of the mysterious smell began.