Lisbon: Former Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone was detained Monday at a Portuguese airport after authorities found a shotgun in his possession without the required documentation, according to media reports. The incident occurred at Tires Aerodrome in Cascais, near the capital Lisbon, shortly after the 95-year-old British billionaire's private jet landed, when authorities discovered the shotgun during a routine inspection of the aircraft and its passengers.

According to Anadolu Agency, Ecclestone was stopped for questioning by Portuguese officials. The former car racing boss said he had a gun that he brought 'from Switzerland to Portugal for clay pigeon shooting,' reported Britain's the Daily Mail. He mentioned that he already had guns in Switzerland that had been properly imported and that he brought the shotgun with him after learning about the Portuguese competition.

Ecclestone stated that authorities asked him for documents for the weapon, including a 'blue book,' which he did not have. He was then instructed to surrender the firearm to authorities in Lisbon. Ecclestone denied reports that he had been formally arrested. Under standard procedure in such cases, the firearm is seized and the person carrying it is formally designated as a defendant in criminal proceedings, according to media reports. Ecclestone ran Formula One's commercial operations for about four decades before exiting the role in 2017.