A passenger who was running late for his flight has phoned Moscow’s Vnukovo airport and claimed there was a bomb on board the plane en route to the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, a transport police spokesman said on Thursday.

The 41-year old passenger was detained by police at the airport.

"All passengers and the plane will undergo extra checks," the spokesman said.

The man can now face a large fine or prison sentence if convicted.