The international airport at Newark in New York was cleared after a man slipped into the secure section of the airport without being checked.

As a result all passengers had to go undergo a second round of checks. Flights were delayed for several hours.

The incident took place on the day that the US announced stricter controls of passengers on US-bound flights. Security at all major airports in the US has been tightened in response to the botched attempt to blow up a plane travelling from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day.

Photo: Empty airport lounge at Newark Airport - Flickr/Willow&Monk