Passengers at Brisbane Domestic Airport faced significant disruptions on Monday after a malfunction in the security screening system forced everyone to undergo re-screening. The incident, caused by a faulty metal detector, led to long queues and frustration among travellers.
What Happened?
According to airport officials, the metal detector in one of the security lanes failed to operate correctly, triggering a mandatory re-screening of all passengers who had already passed through security. The issue was detected during routine checks, but the decision to re-screen everyone was made to ensure no security risks were overlooked.
Passenger Frustration
Many travellers took to social media to express their frustration, with some reporting delays of over an hour. "I’ve never seen such chaos at Brisbane Airport," one passenger tweeted. "The line stretched halfway to the check-in counters!"
Airport staff worked quickly to resolve the issue, but the backlog caused ripple effects, with some passengers missing their flights as a result.
Airport Response
A spokesperson for Brisbane Airport acknowledged the inconvenience and apologised for the disruption. "Safety is our top priority, and while we regret the delays, we must adhere to strict security protocols," they said.
Passengers were advised to arrive earlier than usual for their flights while the system was being recalibrated.
Long-Term Implications
This incident raises questions about the reliability of airport security systems and whether backup measures are sufficient to handle such failures without causing major delays. Aviation experts suggest that airports may need to invest in more redundant systems to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
