The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the UK has launched an investigation into how a Ryanair flight from Liverpool to City of Derry Airport landed at a British army base five miles away, wrties George Jackson.

The flight was being operated on Ryanair's behalf by Eirjet Airline. It was due to have landed at City of Derry Airport at 2.25pm yesterday but instead touched down on an airfield inside the Ballykelly army camp, also known as Shackleton barracks.

The aircraft, which was carrying 38 passengers and six crew, will remain grounded inside the army camp until the CAA investigation is completed.

After the pilot landed the aircraft, British soldiers kept the passengers and crew on board the aircraft for security reasons. Several soldiers boarded the aircraft and the passengers and crew were only allowed to leave after a ramp was brought to Ballykelly from City of Derry Airport.

One of the passengers, Johnny Borrow, said he knew the flight was landing at the wrong airport.

"I tried to tell the crew that we were landing in the wrong place, but it was too late to do anything because the descent was almost over. It was hilarious. Soldiers starting running towards the aircraft waving at us and laughing."

As part of the investigation, CAA officials will interview the pilot and other members of the cockpit crew, none of whom would speak to reporters yesterday.

In a statement released yesterday evening, Ryanair said the incident arose as a result of an error by the Eirjet pilot.

"He mistakenly believed he was on a visual approach to City of Derry Airport. The Eirjet pilot was cleared by air traffic control in City of Derry Airport but he mistook the nearby Ballykelly camp for City of Derry airport and landed. We have informed the aviation authorities both in the UK and in the Republic of Ireland. Never in our 20-year year history has an incident like this happened," the statement said.

Brian Mather, a passenger, said the soldiers treated the passengers well.

"They could see the funny side of it. As we approached to land, the plane banked a couple of times and landed normally, except that we were at the wrong airport. Some of the soldiers came on board and laughingly welcomed us to their international airport. There was no panic among the passengers, but I think the cockpit crew might be panicking a bit," Mr Mather said.