Police detain Ryanair passenger with gun

Police in Stockholm last night detained a passenger who attempted to board a Ryanair flight carrying a gun concealed in hand-luggage.

The passenger, whose identity or gender details have not been released, was attempting to board flight FR685 at Stockholm's Vasteras Airport just before 4 p.m. Stockholm-time yesterday.

In what has been described as a routine examination, security staff at the airport uncovered the handgun. The passenger was arrested prior to boarding but the flight was delayed as security staff at the airport and the local police began interviewing the remaining 188 passengers booked on the flight.

Food and refreshments were provided for the passengers by Ryanair.

Security staff also began a thorough search of the aircraft - one of the new Ryanair fleet of Boeing 737-800s - before clearing it to depart for London Stansted at 10 p.m.

In a statement last night, the airline said it commended the "prompt action and vigilance of the security staff at Stockholm Vasteras Airport".

A company spokeswoman said the airline was co-operating fully with the relevant Swedish authorities. "We apologise sincerely to our passengers for this delay but safety and security is our number one priority."

Security sources suggest an attack on Ryanair is not as unlikely as previously thought given the airline's emerging status as Europe's biggest airline.

Last January, the company signed an order for 100 new aircraft in a deal with Boeing worth some €5 billion. The company also has options on a further 50 aircraft between now and 2008 as part of the deal.

The move led to a major expansion of its network, with new hubs being developed in Italy and Scandinavia. Ryanair currently flies to about 40 continental European cities and another 14 in Britain.

It carries in excess of 10 million passengers per annum and has developed a number of hubs and routes in recent years in a bid to extend its customer base to 40 million.

The acquisition programme agreed with Boeing will make the airline bigger than flag-carriers such as British Airways, Lufthansa and Air France.