Missing airport scissors leads to cancellation of 36 flights

Hundreds of passengers stranded due to missing scissors.

A major disruption occurred at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido over the weekend when a pair of scissors went missing from a store near the departure gates, causing 36 flights to be cancelled and 201 to be delayed. The incident occurred at one of Japan’s busiest airports, causing chaos and confusion among passengers.

On Saturday morning, security checks at the airport’s domestic terminal were suspended for about two hours, stranding hundreds of passengers. The suspension led to huge queues as passengers who had already passed through security had to go through the checks again. The disappearance of the scissors created a major bottleneck, affecting the travel plans of many people who were likely returning home from Japan’s annual Bon holiday.

Despite an intensive search Saturday, the scissors were not immediately found, but security checks and flights eventually resumed later in the day. On Monday, Hokkaido Airport, which operates New Chitose, announced that the missing scissors had been found by a store employee the following day. Airport authorities waited to confirm the discovery before making any announcements to ensure that the scissors were indeed the ones that had gone missing.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has called for a thorough investigation to understand how the scissors went missing and to prevent a similar incident from happening again. The airport operator has acknowledged that the situation was due to inadequate storage and management systems in the store. It has also acknowledged the potential security risks, saying: “We are aware that this could be linked to a hijacking or terrorist act, and we will work to ensure better management practices in the future.”

Passengers who experienced delays expressed a mixture of frustration and understanding. One traveler noted that he had no choice but to wait, although he hoped that such incidents would be handled more carefully in the future. Another commented on the growing number of concerns travelers face, noting: “There’s so much to worry about these days… it never stops. And I don’t feel safe until I get home.”

Despite the inconvenience, the airport’s handling of the situation has been praised on social media. Users on the X platform praised the airport’s response, with some saying it reaffirmed their confidence in Japanese aviation safety. One user commented, “This incident has highlighted the safety of Japanese aviation and the rigor of its manuals!” Another highlighted the significance of the incident, saying it made them realize once again that New Chitose Airport is a safe place to travel.

New Chitose Airport is a crucial hub in Japan, serving one of the world’s busiest domestic air routes, connecting Tokyo and Sapporo. In 2022, more than 15 million passengers passed through the airport, highlighting its importance in the country’s air network.