Three flights at a bustling Australian airport were disrupted due to a bomb threat triggered by an unexpected device.
Avalon Airport, situated approximately 55 kilometers west of Melbourne, Australia, experienced a bomb scare on May 21. The airport went into lockdown for several hours following the identification of a suspicious item by security personnel.
The lockdown was lifted at 11 am as per reports.
The cause of the disruption turned out to be a laser hair removal device. The police bomb squad was called to the regional airport around 6 am after the security check raised concerns about the item.
Initially, one person was taken into custody. An airport spokesperson stated, “Victoria Police have determined that the item no longer poses a risk.”
The swift response showcased the effectiveness of the screening and security procedures, with immediate precautionary actions taken.
According to a spokesperson from Victoria Police, the Bomb Response Unit inspected the item and confirmed it to be a laser hair removal device. Consequently, the domestic terminal of the airport was closed, leading to disruptions in several flights.
Two flights bound for Sydney were canceled, and a flight to Brisbane was delayed. However, the international terminal remained unaffected.
Passengers arriving from Bali landed at Avalon before 7 am, with an outbound Jetstar flight to Bali scheduled for later in the day. Travelers were advised to expect delays and contact Jetstar for flight-related inquiries, as reported by a local news outlet.