Last night Qantas flight QF487 from Sydney to Melbourne was deemed “unscreened” after a passenger boarded the flight without completing airport security at Sydney airport.
As reported in the Sydney Morning Herald the flight landed in Melbourne at 9.01pm on Wednesday 7 September 2022, after which armed federal police escorted the passengers.
A Qantas spokesperson said to SMH:
“As a precaution, all passengers on QF487 were escorted from the aircraft when it landed in Melbourne and taken through the screened part of the airport into the unscreened area – thereby avoiding compromising the secure section of the Melbourne terminal, which would have required all passengers who had already been through security to be rescreened.”
The spokesperson continued:
“We will investigate to understand how this incident occurred and we apologise for any inconvenience to passengers on the flight.”
Australian Financial Review Melbourne bureau chief Patrick Durkin was aboard the flight. He tweeted:
“Qantas flight QF487 Syd – Melb just landed deemed unscreened flight. All 200+ passengers will be escorted by AFP, Vic Police, security – no toilet stops – to security screening. Flight attendant never heard it happening over 20 years flying”
In a follow-up tweet, Durkin reported: “Passengers out now – not too painful in the end. Told someone, somehow not security screened at Sydney Airport.”
Featured image source: Twitter/@patrickdurkin
