JINAN, March 10 -- A flight from Shanghai to Beijing was forced to land at an airport in Jinan in east China's Shandong Province after a fire alarm on board went off in error late Monday.

The HO 1253 aircraft operated by Juneyao Airlines left Shanghai at 6:51 p.m. and was expected in Beijing at 8:20 p.m.. The flight was forced to land in Jinan at 8:22 p.m..

According to a member of staff surnamed Song of Yaoqiang Airport in Jinan, the false fire alarm on the Airbus 320 came from the forepart of the cargo hold.

The carrier has sent another flight to Jinan to take passengers to Beijing.