A MAN was cautioned and another given "words of advice" following an incident on a passenger plane at Stansted Airport, police said.Two men carrying knives in their hand luggage were stopped from boarding a Ryanair flight to Oslo, Norway, shortly before 7am yesterday.

A MAN was cautioned and another given "words of advice" following an incident on a passenger plane at Stansted Airport, police said.

Two men carrying knives in their hand luggage were stopped from boarding a Ryanair flight to Oslo, Norway, shortly before 7am yesterday.

Police said the men were questioned on suspicion of committing offences under the Criminal Justice Act following the incident.

"One man has this afternoon been cautioned in connection with offences under the Criminal Justice Act following two separate incidents at Stansted airport earlier today," said the spokesman.

"Another man has been given suitable word of advice by police."

Sources said there was no suggestion of any concerted attempt at a terrorist attack.

The spokesman added: "The incident occurred shortly before 7am as passengers were boarding a Ryanair flight to Norway.

"Two men who were not travelling together and were separate from each other were each found to be in possession of a small knife. They were detained and arrested by police."

The spokesman said a 34-year-old British man from south-east London and a 43-year-old Norwegian man were arrested.

He said the Briton was travelling alone.

The Norwegian was a Muslim who was travelling with four other Norwegian Muslims, added the spokesman.

They were returning to Oslo after a short stay in Britain.

The spokesman added: "The two arrested men have now been dealt with.

"The man from London was cautioned for possession of a bladed article contrary to the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

"These two men along with the other four men have now been allowed to continue with their journeys to Norway."

The spokesman added: "We had to carry out several long drawn out inquiries, not least because we were dealing with five foreign nationals, so numerous avenues had to be explored and looked at.

"We had to make contact with our colleagues and other agencies in Norway whilst also ensuring that there was no confusion in the translation of the information that was being conveyed.

"Police deal with several incidents each day involving passengers carrying offensive weapons in their luggage.

"But today's events were slightly unusual purely in the fact that it is extremely unusual to find two passengers boarding the same flight who happen to be carrying offensive weapons.

"If anything, today's events reassure people that stringent security measures are in place at Stansted airport to ensure both passenger and air cabin crew safety."

The incident came at a time when security fears are heightened because the second anniversary of the September 11 attacks on New York will be marked on Thursday.