Thirty-six flights were canceled, and 201 were delayed at a Japanese airport over the weekend after a pair of scissors went missing from a store near the boarding gates.
The incident occurred at Hokkaido’s New Chitose Airport, where security checks in the domestic terminal were suspended for about two hours on Saturday morning, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.
As a result, massive bottlenecks and long queues formed as travelers in the departure lounge were required to undergo security checks again.
Authorities launched a search for the missing scissors, which were eventually discovered at the same store the following day.
Although the scissors were not found on Saturday, the day they went missing, security checks and flights resumed later that day.
On Monday, Hokkaido Airport, the operator of New Chitose Airport, announced that a worker at the store had found the scissors on Sunday.
Authorities delayed the announcement until they confirmed that the scissors were indeed the ones that had gone missing. Many of the affected travelers were returning home after Japan’s annual Bon holiday.
“I don’t think we have any choice but to wait,” one traveler told local media. “But I do hope they are a bit more careful about it.”
Another traveler expressed concern, saying, “So many things to worry about these days… it never ends. And I don’t feel safe until I get home.”
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism has requested Hokkaido Airports to investigate the incident and take steps to prevent a recurrence.
“We recognize that this occurred due to insufficient storage and management systems at the store,” Hokkaido Airport stated. “We are aware that this incident could be linked to hijacking or terrorism, and we will work to ensure thorough management awareness.”
The airport’s response to the incident received praise on social media, with users on X commending the safety measures.
One user commented, “This incident showcased the safety of Japanese aviation and the thoroughness of its manuals!” Another remarked, “It made me realize once again that New Chitose Airport is a safe airport to use.”
New Chitose Airport is among Japan’s busiest, serving the world’s second-most traveled domestic air route between Tokyo and Sapporo, according to aviation analytics company OAG. In 2022, the airport handled over 15 million travelers.
Source-BBC
