Kjell Bjoennes, 52, became upset when asked to remove his belt as he passed through the security area at Edinburgh Airport on Thursday.

The contracts manager, who earns £120,000 a year after tax, yelled at security staff: "I have got a belt, not a bomb".

Police were called after Bjoennes continued to shout about bombs and he was arrested.

He appeared from custody at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today and pled guilty to repeatedly shouting and swearing and placing airport staff in a state of fear and alarm and committing a breach of the peace.

Fiscal depute Neil Allan said security staff had asked Bjoennes, from Ankenesstrand, Norway, to remove his belt because it had a heavy buckle.

"There was an exchange of views after which (Bjoennes) removed the belt and threw it into the receptacle for it to go through the X-ray machine," said Mr Allan.

Bjoennes went through the metal detector but was then stopped for a random security search.

Mr Allan said: "Things got out of hand when the accused decided to protest: 'I have got a belt not a bomb'.

"He repeated he didn't have 'a bomb' and used the word 'bomb' at least three times and disorder reigned," said the fiscal.

Bjoennes apologised to police when he was arrested, telling them "I'm sorry".

Paul Smith, defending, said Bjoennes is an engineer who works all over the world as a contracts manager.

The father-of-two, who is teetotal, had been on his way to a project at Longannet Power Station in Fife when he was arrested, said Mr Smith.

"He had been through Edinburgh Airport with the same belt on before and he couldn't understand why a fuss was being made of it on this occasion," said Mr Smith.

"He overreacted, he cannot explain it. He's appalled by his own conduct and is genuinely sorry," the lawyer added.

Sheriff John Horsburgh QC said the fine would have been £1000 if Bjoennes had not pled guilty at the first opportunity.

"I think conduct of this sort in an airport is extremely disruptive," said the sheriff.

"Having regard to the accused's income a substantial fine is justified," he added.