Plane Searched Twice Before Allowed To Depart

If authorities at airports nationwide are upset about finding liquids among the carry-ons aboard commercial flights... you can imagine how they feel about guns. A 25-year old man from Limerick was headed to Egypt aboard a charter flight Sunday, when inspectors at Dublin Airport found a loaded 9-millimeter handgun in his luggage.

Needless to say, he was arrested immediately. The Belfast Telegraph reports the man told security officials he had not placed the gun in the bag.

The find also prompted a full search of the aircraft, its passengers and their luggage -- not once, but twice. The plane was grounded at the gate during the first security check... and was ordered to halt as it taxiied for takeoff, so it could return for a second search.

A spokesperson for the Dublin Airport Authority reports the plane finally took off at about 5:00 pm local time -- three hours overdue. No other flights were affected by the scare.

As in several other countries, security has been beefed up lately at airports in Ireland. Just over a week ago, a man identifying himself as a member of the al-Qaeda claimed there was a liquid explosive aboard and Aer Lingus flight from New York to Shannon -- forcing that aircraft to make an emergency landing.

No explosives were found on board.

FMI: www.dublinairportauthority.com