Passengers aboard a plane that became the target of an alleged hijack attempt have praised the vigilance of the airport team who dealt with the incident.

A man was caught allegedly trying to board their Ryanair flight from Stockholm to Stansted carrying a gun.

One of the passengers turned to the seat next to him and told his daughter: "It can't get more scary than this."

But he and others said they were relieved that security checks had averted any potential incident.

They photographed us with our passports held to our faces

Passenger

"We were surrounded by guys with guns and dogs," another of the 189 passengers told BBC News.

"They took one guy away and we could see they had a gun in a bag," she recalled.

"The guy had a hood over his head and he was handcuffed.

"It was incredible - frightening."

But that was not the end of the passengers' ordeal.

"They kept us in a holding pen and released us one by one to check our baggage - to say that it was ours," the passenger continued.

"And then when we came through into the departure lounge they photographed us with our passports held to our faces."

But most of the people on the plane have applauded the way it was handled.

"It was scary - but handled very well," said one.

"But then of course you think what could have happened."

The crew said, 'We have got a group of people on the flight we don't feel secure with'

Elin Dermeborg

Swedish social worker Elin Dermeborg, 27, was on her way to visit a friend in the UK for a planned shopping trip.

"We all got on the plane then the crew came around and said, 'We have got a group of people on the flight we don't feel secure with.'

"There was a group of about 20 Somalians, some were wearing Muslim clothing, and they said they were on their way to an Islamic summit meeting in the UK.

"Everyone had to get off the plane and one of the Somalians, a guy wearing a red T-shirt, was arrested by the police.

Flown in

"The Somalians were all taken away to be questioned."

"We had to wait while police searched the airplane and the airport with dogs and special equipment."

She said another crew was flown in from the UK and eventually all passengers got back on board and took off.

"Everyone was very calm, no one panicked or refused to get on the second flight," Ms Dermeborg said.

"We were all very tired by that stage."