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A Melbourne airport faced a major disruption when a “suspicious” item led to a temporary halt of operations and grounded a flight. The item in question, which caused the commotion, turned out to be a laser hair removal device.
The incident unfolded at Avalon Airport, where one individual was detained following the identification of the item during routine security screening. This prompted a significant police response, including the involvement of the bomb squad.
Emergency services were swiftly summoned to the scene just before 6 a.m., leading to the evacuation of the domestic terminal. Authorities conducted thorough safety checks to ensure the security of the premises.
Upon arrival, Victoria Police’s bomb response unit conducted an assessment and concluded that the item was harmless, identifying it as a laser hair removal device along with a package of hot chocolate.
The detained individual was released without any charges, and normal operations at the airport resumed shortly after the clarification of the situation.
The incident caused delays at Melbourne’s second-biggest airport, which is located around 50 kilometres from the CBD.
“At this stage, passengers are being advised that, due to safety precautions, delays are expected to the Brisbane flight this morning,” police said earlier.
“We will provide further updates regarding any additional delays as more information becomes available.”
“The building has been evacuated and area cordoned off as a precaution while the investigation is ongoing.”
Images from the scene showed cars backed up outside the airport, while security vehicles blocked entrances.
9News was told passengers landing this morning from a flight in Bali were escorted off the plane and into a holding area.
Two bomb squad robots were deployed into the terminal.
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