Mass Flight Cancellations and Delays After Security Breach
A security incident at Hokkaido’s New Chitose Airport led to the cancellation of 36 flights and delays for 201 others over the weekend after a pair of scissors went missing from a store near the boarding gates. Security checks were suspended for about two hours, causing significant disruptions and bottlenecks as passengers were forced to retake screenings.
Search for missing scissors and airport response
The missing scissors were discovered at the same store the following day, but the delays had already impacted hundreds of travelers, many of whom were returning home after Japan’s Bon holiday. Despite resuming flights later on Saturday, authorities were criticized for the oversight, prompting the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism to demand an investigation into the incident.
Hokkaido Airport, the operator of New Chitose, acknowledged that the mishap was due to “insufficient storage and management systems” at the store and recognized the potential security risk it posed. In response, social media users praised the airport’s thorough handling of the situation, reaffirming their confidence in Japanese air safety standards.
New Chitose is one of Japan’s busiest airports, serving the highly traveled domestic route between Tokyo and Sapporo. In 2022, over 15 million passengers passed through the airport, making the incident a significant disruption for many.