Passenger arrested trying to board plane with artillery shell in his luggage

XIAMEN, China – A Chinese passenger was arrested by police after trying to board a plane with a bombshell – but was heard asking what all the fuss was about.

Chen Liang, 39, had purchased an empty artillery shell from a souvenir shop while enjoying a recent week-long public holiday.

Security guards checking luggage at Xiamen Airport raised the alarm when they spotted what they believed was a bomb in the man’s bag.

An X-ray machine picked up the shape of the artillery shell. It sparked a security alert and the owner of the luggage was arrested.

Mr Liang said he had not thought about the problems it might cause when he put it in his hand luggage for his flight home from the airport in China’s Fujian Province.

Custom’s officials immediately quarantined the luggage. Liang was heard loudly insisting that the item was not dangerous.

Mr Liang said the wartime memorabilia had cost him 100 RMB (£10).

The Chinese man was still in custody today facing charges of violating airport security laws and is likely to face a fine or possibly even a jail term for the act.

Last month bomb disposal units were called to Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada after a teenager tried to board a plane with an alarm clock designed to look like an explosive.

The 15-year-old was traveling to Vancouver.

He was going through security when officials noticed the device in his luggage.

The explosive disposal unit was dispatched to Terminal 3, the screening area was shut down, and the surrounding area was evacuated for about three hours.

The teenager was charged by police for ‘mischief’.