NIGHTMARE: Carnage at Auckland Domestic Airport as a security breach forces the entire terminal to be re-screened, causing significant delays.
Passengers at Auckland Airport have been re-screened following an incident with security.
A security breach has impacted travellers at Auckland Domestic Airport following a security breach. Further delays and disruptions have also occurred subsequently.
At approximately 6:40 am on Friday morning, a passenger in the airport’s domestic terminal refused to fully comply at the screening checkpoint. Aviation security have said the passenger left the screening checkpoint into a restricted area prior to the process being complete.
The passenger in question has since been located by staff and removed.
Due to the breach, the terminal then had to be emptied and all passengers had to be re-screened at security. Airport staff confirmed that process was still underway at 9:00 am.
Passengers have described the scene as bedlam and chaotic, with long lines plaguing airline schedules and operations.
Some have complained about the quality of public announcements, describing them as hard to understand. Passengers with flights soon to depart were given priority.
Flights were also cancelled at short notice due to the breach. One passenger travelling from South America said their connecting flight to Christchurch was scrapped through the process, of which they were informed of waiting in the “massive” line.
The South American tourist then said it was unreasonable to wait until his rescheduled flight at 7:00 pm this evening, as other flights were departing for Christchurch sooner.
The airport said that all travellers heading to the terminal today should check well in advance of any disruption the security breach has caused. It also warned that there could be serious delays or cancellations.
Aviation Security Services said that screening has since recommenced to four operating lanes, and that there was no safety or security at risk. An additional investigation into the incident is expected to commence in the foreseeable future.
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