A man was detained in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, for allegedly threatening to blow up a passenger plane after being refused a drink, the local authority said on Friday.

The man, surnamed Wo, was detained for 10 days after threatening to bomb an airplane after his request for a beer was refused by an attendant early on Thursday evening, said Liu Sheng, an official of the airport branch of the Zhejiang Provincial Public Security Department, on Friday.

Wo's comment sparked panic among passengers who criticized and quarreled with him, Liu said.

The 50-something Ningbo resident was detained by police on board the plane. He was apprehended after the China Eastern Airlines flight from Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, landed in Hangzhou at 6:10 p.m.

No dangerous articles were found following a police check of the plane.

(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2008)