Updated 8.36 pm

THERE WAS A security alert at Dublin Airport today following an incident on an Aer Lingus flight from Milan.

It is understood that a passenger on the plane claimed he had Ebola after writing the word on a coffee cup.

A male passenger aged 56 was arrested and is to appear before the Courts of Criminal Justice tomorrow morning.

Two female passengers aged 51 and 23 were also arrested and brought to Ballymun Garda Station under the Air Navigation and Transport Act, but were released tonight without charge.

“Attentione Ebola”

Gardaí from Ballymun were called to the scene of the incident shortly after 1pm. In a statement they said the passenger had shown a plastic cup to a flight attendant marked ‘’Attentione Ebola’’ written on it.

There were 142 passengers on board at the time.

The flight attendant notified the captain who immediately contacted the Dublin Airport Authority. The Airport Police placed a cordon at the aircraft which was parked at stand.

The HSE were notified and the emergency protocols were invoked.

Medical examinations 

The aircraft remained on the apron for one hour while three of the passengers were medically examined.

Following consultation with the HSE it was established there was no evidence of a health risk. At approximately 2.15pm the crew and passengers were permitted to disembark and the cordon removed.

Dublin Airport Authority said the incident was stood down at 2pm today. In their statement they said:

Following a minor security incident on board an Aer Lingus flight from Milan to Dublin, passengers were held on board the aircraft after it landed at Dublin Airport just before 1pm today.

As a precaution, the incident was fully investigated before passengers and crew disembarked as normal. The incident is now a matter for the gardaí.

Aer Lingus said in a statement:

A security issue arose on flight EI 433 (Milan to Dublin) earlier today. As a precaution passengers and crew were temporarily detained on board the aircraft while the matter was investigated. Passengers have now disembarked the aircraft.

An Garda Siochana are now dealing with the matter. As this is a security matter we have no further comment.

First published 15.45pm