A security incident at the Auckland Airport domestic terminal this morning was caused by a passenger accessing a restricted area without being security screened.
A CAA spokesperson told the Herald: “The incident was identified and managed promptly, with Aviation Security, Auckland Airport and police responding in line with standard security protocols.
“As a precaution, affected passengers were cleared and rescreened, which contributed to some disruption.”
Hundreds of passengers waiting to depart Auckland this morning were forced to return through security after the security breach.
The spokesperson said at this stage there was nothing to suggest any malicious intent, and “inquiries are currently being carried out to establish the full details of how this breach occurred”.
A witness claimed a passenger who was allowed to bypass security to board a departing flight was behind a major scare at Auckland Airport.
However, the CAA spokesperson said initial enquiries indicated the incident did not involve a staff member providing access.
An Auckland Airport spokesperson said the issue had been resolved. Passengers started filing through security gates again about 8.20am.
“Aviation Security is requiring all passengers to be rescreened and that process is underway.
“There have been some delays to flights, and we ask that anyone travelling domestically this morning to please stay across travel updates from their airline.”
Extra staff, including dog handlers, have been brought on to clear the large number of passengers who have to be re-processed through the security screening area.
NZME’s Michael Morrah, who was at Auckland’s domestic terminal, said “hundreds” of passengers who had cleared security had been evacuated.
“An aviation security officer came out and simply said everyone has to evacuate, there’s been a security breach.”
Passengers were asked to return through security screening.
There had been a 55-minute wait time to pass security check.
A departing passenger claimed the security scare was sparked after a passenger running late for a flight was allowed to bypass screening.
They said they watched as the passenger rushing to reach their departing flight was swiped through a door by a staff member.
The alarm was triggered by this action, the passenger said.
The evacuation caused confusion in the terminal.
A notice board had displayed wait times of an hour.
Departure information on the airport website shows departing flights as delayed or blank.
A Wellington-bound passenger told the Herald it had been “pretty chaotic”.
Passenger Rus Dennis was flying to Wellington to collect a hybrid vehicle and drive home to Ōkaihau, 15km north of Kaikohe.
So far, the journey had not gone to plan.
“We were on the plane and we ended up getting that cancelled halfway through take-off, which was interesting ... then we came back to the terminal and we had to wait until they told us to get off the plane because there was an engine issue.
“After that, there was a security breach here in the airport, so we all had to evacuate this gate and go back down through screening.
“And then on top of that, we’ve had thunderstorms which have delayed all the flights.”
Dennis said the airport scenes had been “very busy and very upsetting for some people”. He said they were given “no information as to what’s going to happen next”.
Dennis, who’d been up since 12.30am to make his scheduled 6am flight, said the disruptions were “a bit frustrating” given he’d been hoping to make the 11 hour journey back to Northland via car today.
“I don’t see how we’re going to do that now.”
Maria Chaukan had a funeral to attend in Wellington and told the Herald the situation had been “very chaotic”.
Aviation Security has been contacted for comment.
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