Over the weekend, 36 flights were cancelled, and over 200 others were delayed at the New Chitose Airport in Japan after a pair of scissors disappeared from a store near the boarding gates.
Security checks at the airport’s domestic terminal were halted for approximately two hours on Saturday morning, temporarily inconveniencing hundreds of travellers. This led to congestion and long lines as passengers in the departure lounge were required to undergo security checks again.
The missing scissors were eventually discovered at the same store the following day.
While the pair of scissors was not found on the day it went missing, security checks and flights eventually resumed. Many travellers who had experienced cancellations and delays were returning home after Japan’s annual Bon holiday.
Authorities asked Hokkaido Airports to investigate the cause and prevent it from happening again.
“We recognise that this occurred due to insufficient storage and management systems at the store,” Hokkaido Airport said. “We are aware that this is also an incident that could be linked to hijacking or terrorism, and will once again work to ensure thorough management awareness.”
The incident showcased the safety of Japan’s aviation industry.
New Chitose is among the most bustling airports in Japan. It caters to the second busiest domestic air route in the world, which connects Tokyo and Sapporo. Over 15 million passengers used the airport in 2022.