Slovakian flees home after jet 'bomb' blunder

Stefan Gonda (49) unwittingly carried explosives on a flight from Poprad-Tatry to Dublin last week.

Sources in Slovakia believe he has returned to the country after the traumatic experience to spend time with his family.

A total of 96g of plastic explosive was planted in his luggage as part of a training exercise for a sniffer dog at the airport.

It is understood the electrician travelled to Slovakia last week to be with his wife Monika Gondova and his young son.

"He has returned to Slovakia, but it is unclear where he is," they said. "He is not at his apartment in Poprad. It's most likely that he returned to be with his family."

Sources said that he did not want any further media attention but that the country's interior minister, Robert Kalinak, was in regular contact with him.

Slovakian officials have confirmed that Mr Gonda received compensation following the ordeal but said both parties had agreed not to disclose the details.

His wife, Monika Gondova, had previously said that he would not file a complaint against the police.

Angry

The Slovakian embassy in Dublin have said that an investigation is continuing.

"The minister for the interior has ordered an investigation and this is still going on," they said. "It might take some time before this has been concluded."

A separate investigation by the garda, headed by Det Chief Supt Martin McLoughlin, is ongoing but a spokesperson said that they would not be releasing any further information at this time.

Meanwhile, Slovakians living in Dublin have told media outlets that they are the butt of jokes following the incident and are angry with how the incident it was handled.

The Slovakian chief of border police, Tibor Mako, has since resigned.

clairemurphy@herald.ie