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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/04/all-brisbane-domestic-airport-passengers-forced-to-re-screen-at-security-after-metal-detector-fault
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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Confused passengers evacuated from Brisbane domestic airport and told to rescreen after metal detector fault | |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Flights delayed after ‘technical fault with a single metal detector’ but airport says there is no safety or security threat | Flights delayed after ‘technical fault with a single metal detector’ but airport says there is no safety or security threat |
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| Passengers have been evacuated from Brisbane domestic airport and flights have been delayed after a fault with a single metal detector prompted both travellers and staff to be rescreened by security. | |
| Pictures on social media showed large crowds at the airport, with one person saying the “entire place has ground to a halt”. | Pictures on social media showed large crowds at the airport, with one person saying the “entire place has ground to a halt”. |
| In a statement on Monday, the airport said all people within the terminal were being rescreened “due to a technical fault with a single metal detector”. | |
| “The fault was quickly identified and there is no safety or security threat,” the statement said. | “The fault was quickly identified and there is no safety or security threat,” the statement said. |
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| “However, it will take some time to rescreen all passengers and staff, delaying flights.” | “However, it will take some time to rescreen all passengers and staff, delaying flights.” |
| One passenger, Craig MacLean, said everyone had boarded his 3.40pm flight to Cairns when they were told there had been a security breach and the entire domestic airport was being evacuated. | One passenger, Craig MacLean, said everyone had boarded his 3.40pm flight to Cairns when they were told there had been a security breach and the entire domestic airport was being evacuated. |
| “There were thousands and thousands all funnelling outside,” he said. “Now [they’re] all outside and waiting on the process of everyone having to come back through.” | “There were thousands and thousands all funnelling outside,” he said. “Now [they’re] all outside and waiting on the process of everyone having to come back through.” |
| Everyone stayed calm, but there was mass confusion as people were told to come forward for screening but then turned away by security, he said. | Everyone stayed calm, but there was mass confusion as people were told to come forward for screening but then turned away by security, he said. |
| “It’s a nightmare trying to navigate to the screening area because there are just so many people here.” | “It’s a nightmare trying to navigate to the screening area because there are just so many people here.” |
| Another traveller, Zachariah Kelly, was on the first flight to take off to Sydney and said the delay was around two hours and 30 minutes. | |
| “We were already all boarded and waiting for about 40 minutes before the captain told us to get off,” he said. | “We were already all boarded and waiting for about 40 minutes before the captain told us to get off,” he said. |
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| “There wasn’t much panic at the outside of the airport, but there was a lot of confusion – nobody really knew what was going on until [Brisbane] put out that statement on a technical fault with a scanner.” | “There wasn’t much panic at the outside of the airport, but there was a lot of confusion – nobody really knew what was going on until [Brisbane] put out that statement on a technical fault with a scanner.” |
| The airport said it apologised for the inconvenience and thanked passengers for their patience and understanding. | The airport said it apologised for the inconvenience and thanked passengers for their patience and understanding. |
| Brisbane’s international terminal is not affected by the issue, the statement said. | Brisbane’s international terminal is not affected by the issue, the statement said. |
| On Friday, the airport announced it had become the first airport in the world to complete a security assessment under a new International Air Transport Association program. | On Friday, the airport announced it had become the first airport in the world to complete a security assessment under a new International Air Transport Association program. |
| The certification involved an airport site visit in June and a full audit of its aviation security, according to the airport’s website. | The certification involved an airport site visit in June and a full audit of its aviation security, according to the airport’s website. |
| The airport, Australia’s third-busiest, has direct connections to 62 domestic destinations. | The airport, Australia’s third-busiest, has direct connections to 62 domestic destinations. |