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One of the pilots reported a "medical issue" after a laser was shone into the cockpit about six miles from Heathrow.

A Virgin Atlantic flight to New York has been forced to return to Heathrow Airport after a laser beam was pointed at the plane - prompting urgent action in the cockpit.

Audio of the plane's exchange with air traffic control describes one of the pilots having a "medical issue" following the incident, which occurred "six or seven miles" west of Heathrow.

Virgin confirmed Flight VS025 to JFK - which had 252 passengers and 15 crew on board - had been abandoned as a "precautionary measure" after the plane's First Officer reported "feeling unwell".

All the passengers on the flight - which took off just before 8pm - are safe, but they will have to wait until 1pm on Monday to continue their journey because of "limited availability".

Passenger Bethany McHutchinson told Sky News: "I think it's really scary, whether it was by accident or on purpose.

"If anything had happened, if it had been really serious, it could have put everyone's lives on the plane in danger."

A spokesperson for Virgin Atlantic USA said: "The safety of our crew and customers is our top priority and we apologise for any inconvenience to those onboard."

The airline said it is working with authorities to identify the source of the "laser beam incident".

A laser can result in temporary vision loss associated with flash blindness, according to the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa), which wants ministers to classify lasers as offensive weapons

Balpa general secretary Jim McAuslan said: "This is not an isolated incident. Aircraft are attacked with lasers at an alarming rate and with lasers with ever-increasing strength.

"It is an incredibly dangerous thing to do. Shining a laser at an aircraft puts that aircraft, its crew and all the passengers on board at completely unnecessary risk."

There were 414 laser incidents in the UK in the first six months of 2015, latest Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) figures show.

A British Airways co-pilot reportedly suffered a burned retina in his right eye after a "military strength" laser beam was shone into the cockpit of his plane landing at Heathrow in November 2015.