Malta flight delayed by Gatwick scare

The security alert at London's Gatwick airport, after an incoming passenger was found in possession of a grenade, disrupted yesterday evening's British Airways flight to and from Malta.

The north terminal at Gatwick was closed and flights suspended after security personnel at the London airport at about 3.30 p.m. detected what appeared to be a live hand grenade in the luggage of a Venezuelan national arriving from Colombia to Gatwick.

The terminal re-opened at 8.25 p.m. BA flight 6938 was originally due to arrive at Malta International Airport at 8.25 p.m. but actually landed at 10.40 p.m.

A BA spokesman in Malta said the aircraft was allowed to depart from Gatwick to Malta without any passengers since no check-in of passengers was being made.

Last night the aircraft departed from Malta at 11.15, two hours behind schedule.

A spokesman for Air Malta said the airline did not have any flights to or from Gatwick yesterday. The Air Malta flight to Gatwick is operated this morning but Air Malta uses the south terminal.