Scissors delay 120 flights and 20000 passengers

March 28, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

At 10:15am on March 27, Naha Airport temporarily stopped operations because a pair of scissors (10 centimeter long blade) was found in a boarding bridge connecting the building and an aircraft. For security reasons the airport office closed the access way to the inspection area. They checked the inside of the aircraft and the security area of the airport by having passengers vacate the area.

As a result, eight flights arriving or departing from the airport were canceled, and about 120 flights were delayed by as much as four hours. It is thought that this incident may have affected more than 20000 passengers.

The pair of scissors was found in what is a restricted “clean” area for dangerous goods such as explosives and things with blades. According to the airport authorities, a female passenger on Jetstar flight 133, which arrived from Narita at 9:43am, dropped the scissors from her bag when she was walking through the boarding bridge. A Jetstar staff member picked the scissors up and returned them to her.

The airport authorities evacuated all passengers who were in the security area after receiving notification from Jetstar. Considering that other passengers may have also brought scissors on board they re-examined all the baggage. Two safety inspection areas were closed for about 90 minutes. Officials have looked for the woman, but are yet to find her.

(English translation by T&CT, Mark Ealey)

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