36 flights were cancelled and 201 delayed at Japanese airports over the past weekend after a pair of scissors went missing at a store near the boarding gate.
Security checks at domestic terminals at New Chitose Airport on Hokkaido Island were suspended for about two hours on Saturday morning (Aug. 17), stranding hundreds of passengers in long lines. This is because passengers in the departure lounge must undergo another security check.
Authorities are trying to find the missing scissors. They were found in the same store the next day. Although the scissors were not found on Saturday. But on the day the scissors disappeared, safety checks and flights resumed on the same day.
Hokkaido Airport Authority, operator of the new Chitose Airport, said Monday that the scissors were found by store employees on Sunday. Authorities said they were waiting to confirm that the scissors were the same ones that were missing.
Many passengers have been affected by flight cancellations and delays. “I was on my way home after the annual Obon holiday in Japan. I don’t think I have any other choice but to wait,” one passenger told local media. “But let’s hope they are more careful about this.” Another passenger said: “There are so many things to worry about these days. It never ends. I don’t feel safe until I get home.”
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has asked Hokkaido Airport to investigate the cause and prevent such incidents from happening again. “We understand that this happened due to insufficient storage and handling systems,” the Hokkaido Airport Authority said. “We understand that this is an incident that may be related to a kidnapping or terrorism. We will work again to ensure that this matter is dealt with thoroughly.”
Social media users on X praised the airport's response to the incident, with many saying it boosted their confidence in Japan's air safety.
“This incident shows the safety of Japanese aviation,” said one user. “And comprehensive management,” said another. “This story made me realize once again that New Chitose Airport is a safe airport to use.”
New Chitose Airport is one of the busiest airports in Japan. It offers domestic flights between Tokyo and Sapporo. It is the second busiest passenger route in the world. According to aviation analytics firm OAG, the airport will handle more than 15 million passengers in 2022.