Fine for airport check bomb row

The fine was passed down at Edinburgh Sheriff Court

A Norwegian engineer who protested that he "didn't have a bomb" while going through airport security checks has been fined £650.

Kjell Bjoennes, 52, became upset when asked to remove his belt as he passed through the security area at Edinburgh Airport on Thursday.

The contracts manager, who earns £120,000 a year after tax, yelled at staff "I have got a belt, not a bomb".

He appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court and pled guilty to breach of the peace.

Police were called after Bjoennes continued to shout about bombs and he was arrested.

I think conduct of this sort in an airport is extremely disruptive Sheriff John Horsburgh Edinburgh Sheriff Court

Fiscal depute Neil Allan said security staff had asked Bjoennes, from Ankenesstrand, Norway, to remove his belt because it had a heavy buckle.

"There was an exchange of views after which he (Bjoennes) removed the belt and threw it into the receptacle for it to go through the X-ray machine," said Mr Allan.

Bjoennes went through the metal detector but was then stopped for a random security search.

"He protested about this telling members of staff 'this is ridiculous, don't make your job more important than it is'," said Mr Allan.

Bjoennes apologised to police when he was arrested, telling them "I'm sorry".

'Genuinely sorry'

The father-of-two, who is teetotal, had been on his way to a project at Longannet Power Station in Fife when he was arrested, said Mr Smith.

"He had been through Edinburgh Airport with the same belt on before and he couldn't understand why a fuss was being made of it on this occasion," said Mr Smith.

"He overreacted, he cannot explain it. He's appalled by his own conduct and is genuinely sorry," the lawyer added.

Sheriff John Horsburgh QC said the fine would have been £1,000 if Bjoennes had not pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

"I think conduct of this sort in an airport is extremely disruptive," said the sheriff.