Runaway, 12, beats high security to board plane

LONDON - British police want to know how a 12-year-old boarded an aircraft at London's Gatwick airport during the security clampdown without a passport or boarding pass.

The boy got on an airliner when British airports were still operating at their highest level of security following the thwarting of an alleged plot to blow up US-bound airliners in mid-flight.

He had run away from a care home in Merseyside, western England, and travelled to London by train.

The boy somehow got through airport security, boarded the plane and took a seat before a member of the Lisbon-bound Monarch Airlines crew noticed he had no boarding pass. He also had no passport or any other travel documents.

Sussex Police said they were concerned by Monday's security breach and an investigation was under way.

"The boy had passed through a full security screening process and we are confident there was no threat to passengers, staff or the aircraft at any time," a spokesman for the British Airports Authority at Gatwick airport said.

Security restrictions were heightened on Thursday when Britain raised its terror alert level to "critical" over the alleged plot to blow up US-bound planes.

Twenty-four people were arrested in pre-dawn raids on Thursday. One has since been released, and another person was arrested yesterday.

Britain on Monday lowered its terror threat level to "severe" - the fourth highest level, but security restrictions at many airports were not eased until Tuesday.

Even so, thousand of passengers have been flying out without their luggage.

British Airways said it was trying to clear a backlog of 5000 bags at Heathrow and other airlines had similar problems.

- AGENCIES