Staff in the control tower were alarmed at the sight of the low-flying Cessna scudding erratically across the New York state skyline.

The officers made a swift approach as the light aircraft came in to land - and were astonished when the cabin door opened and a cascade of empty beer cans toppled to the ground.

The incredible scene was the culmination of a beer-fuelled airborne joyride which has caused consternation among the US security services.

Philippe Patricio, a 20-year-old who has taken several flying lessons but does not hold a pilot's licence, had allegedly stolen the 172 Skyhawk from a landing strip in Danbury, Connecticut, and taken two 16-year-old friends on a drunken three-hour flight.

With fuel levels running low Mr Patricio, whose blood alcohol level was almost twice the legal limit for driving, managed to locate the disused Westchester County Airport by sight and - with only moonlight for guidance - bump down on the taxiway. Even bemused security officials said privately that Patricio's landing was an "accomplishment."

Police described how Patricio was 'visibly drunk' when he was arrested. He has been charged with reckless endangerment of life, criminal possession of stolen property and resisting arrest.

Prosecutors are deciding whether to press a separate charge under state laws which prohibits flying an aeroplane while drunk. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

But as the legal procedures swung into action, serious questions were today being asked about how the young man managed to gain access to the plane and apparently to hotwire it in a state where security is paramount.

The single-engine, four-seater plane had taken off at about 1.30am local time and landed 30 miles away at Westchester three hours later at 4.15am today. From 11pm to 6am, the 700-acre facility becomes an uncontrolled airport, meaning that planes can land without being required to communicate with the control tower.

The plane caught the security patrol's attention because Patricio was flying erratically and landed on the taxiway, which is next to the terminal, rather than on a runway.

Andrew Spano, the County Executive, said that investigations were underway into how Patricio managed to break into the Danbury airport to pull off the stunt. He said that he was angry that such an incident was possible at the airport, which has increased its security budget from $1.4 million to $4.8 million after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

"This was just a casual thing, but imagine if it had been planned," he said. "This is the kind of security that should not be left to localities. This requires national investigation."

Paul Estefan, the administrator of Danbury airport, said he was mystified: "We're all locked and fenced in here," he said, and insisted that the owner, the Arrow Aviation flight school, still held the keys to the plane.

Anthony Debany, the chief pilot with Arrow Aviation, dismissed reports that the suspect was a part-time employee, although he said that he had flown with an instructor several years ago. "We have no clue how Patricio got access to the plane," Mr Debany said.

Arlene Murray, an spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Authority in New York City, said that the agency was looking into whether there was any violation of FAA regulations, adding: "It's too soon to talk about that yet."

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