A Gatwick security guard has been suspended after an undercover inspector got into a hangar using a fake pass.
The Securicor ADI guard waved the Government inspector through a gate leading to British Airways maintenance hangars containing aircraft.
Snap inspections have been stepped up after gaps in security were revealed at major airports after the September 11 attacks.
A British Airways spokesman said the guard had been suspended pending an internal disciplinary investigation.
He said: "It is a matter of concern what happened. We are investigating with Securicor ADI and the Department of Transport."
A Transport Department spokesman said "We do not want to discover problems like this but it is better that we do."
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