The plane has been cordoned off while the mercury is removed

They include two cargo handlers, three baggage handlers and a firefighter.

A plane has been cordoned off while the spillage is dealt with.

The mercury spillage was found while baggage handlers were unloading cargo from a Flybe flight which arrived from Birmingham shortly after 0800 BST on Monday.

Officials at Belfast City Airport said all 83 passengers and five crew were never in any danger and that the two baggage handlers had been taken to hospital as a precaution.

The two cargo handlers and three baggage handlers were taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital. They have been given the all-clear.

The firefighter was taken to the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald.

The plane was cordoned off while the mercury was removed and the rest of Belfast City Airport operated as normal.

The airport continues to operate as normal and the aircraft will remain quarantined until it has been cleaned and passed fit to fly Airport spokesman

A spokesman for Belfast City Airport said: "Six Belfast City Airport staff were sent to hospital this morning for a precautionary check-up after workers unloading cargo on a Flybe flight from Birmingham discovered a small mercury spill in the cargo hold.

"Flight BE 400 arrived at 8.10am and passengers disembarked as normal. Baggage handlers spotted the mercury while unloading the cargo and contamination procedures were immediately put in place.

"This involved two cargo handlers and three baggage handlers being taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital for a precautionary check-up and a firefighter being taken to the Ulster Hospital."

The airport said all passengers and crew left the aircraft as normal with their baggage because luggage and cargo were kept in separate compartments on the plane involved.

"The airport continues to operate as normal and the aircraft will remain quarantined until it has been cleaned and passed fit to fly," said the spokesman.