The Daily Populous Wednesday August 21st, 2024 night edition
Authored by bbc.com and submitted by mcbenz

Flights cancelled in Japan after scissors go missing

New Chitose is one of Japan’s busiest airports

Authorities tried to locate the missing scissors, which were found at the same store the following day.

There were huge bottlenecks and queues as passengers in the departure lounge were forced to retake security checks.

Security checks at Hokkaido’s New Chitose Airport domestic terminal were suspended for about two hours on Saturday morning, leaving hundreds of travellers temporarily stranded.

Thirty-six flights were cancelled and 201 delayed at a Japanese airport on the weekend after a pair of scissors went missing in a store near the boarding gates.

Although the scissors weren’t located on Saturday, the day they went missing, security checks and flights eventually resumed that day.

Hokkaido Airport, the operator of New Chitose airport, announced on Monday that the scissors had been found by a worker at the store on Sunday.

Authorities explained that they held off on making the announcement until they had confirmed that the scissors were the same as the ones that were lost.

Many travellers affected by the cancellations and delays were flying home after Japan’s annual Bon holiday.

“I don't think we have any choice (but to wait),” one traveller told local media at the time. “But I do hope they are bit more careful about it.”

Another traveller said there were “So many things to worry about these days… it never ends. And I don't feel safe until I get home.”

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has asked Hokkaido Airports to investigate the cause and prevent it from happening again.

"We recognise that this occurred as a result of 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."

Social media users on X praised the airport's response to the incident, with several saying it reaffirmed their confidence in Japanese air safety.

"This incident showcased the safety of Japanese aviation and the thoroughness of its manuals!" one user wrote.

Another said it "made me realise once again that New Chitose Airport is a safe airport to use."

New Chitose is one of Japan’s busiest airports, serving the world's second-most travelled domestic air route – between Tokyo and Sapporo – according to aviation analytics company OAG.

More than 15 million travellers used the airport in 2022.

Additional reporting by Chika Nakayama in Tokyo

e4gleeye on August 20th, 2024 at 12:28 UTC »

You joke, but I needed a scissor past security once. The thing is attached to a reception desk by a very short chain. I have to bring my item that need cutting there because they're not allowed to move it from there.

morenewsat11 on August 20th, 2024 at 11:41 UTC »

Yeah, I was going to make some dumb comment about rock and paper but it's better to cut through the chaff of the story.

> Thirty six flights were cancelled and 201 delayed at a Japanese airport on the weekend after a pair of scissors went missing in a store near the boarding gates.

...

> Authorities tried to locate the missing scissors, which were found at the same store the following day.

edit: changed 'cut to' to 'cut through'

JustinR8 on August 20th, 2024 at 11:38 UTC »

Imagine being the minimum wage employee who shut down an entire airport