6-10-2023 (QUEENSTOWN) Queenstown Airport, located in Queenstown, New Zealand, reopened at 3pm on Friday following a bomb threat that triggered an evacuation and emergency response. The incident began at 8:40 am when the police and Aviation Security received reports of a suspected explosive device, according to a police spokesperson.
In response to the threat, the Defence Force’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit was dispatched to the scene. After assessing the situation, an airport spokesperson confirmed that the reported items posed no threat, leading to the reopening of the airport.
Queenstown Airport expressed gratitude to the public for their patience and understanding throughout the ordeal. The police cordon was lifted, allowing passengers to retrieve their luggage and vehicles. Additionally, individuals with confirmed flight reservations were advised to proceed to the airport.
Authorities recommended passengers who were affected by the incident but lacked confirmed bookings to contact their respective airlines for further assistance. Earlier in the day, the airport had been evacuated, triggering the activation of emergency security protocols. Passengers were safely transported by bus to a secure location.
At 11am, Queenstown Airport announced that it would likely take several hours to complete the risk assessment process. Throughout this time, food and shelter arrangements were made for passengers in need at the Queenstown Event Centre. Glyn Lewers, the mayor of Queenstown Lakes District, stated that approximately 200 evacuated passengers were accommodated at the event center.
Lewers also mentioned that they were awaiting the arrival of the Defence Force from Christchurch around 11:30 am. As the incident unfolded, the police advised the public to avoid the airport, resulting in the suspension of all flights to and from Queenstown. Regular updates regarding flight details were provided on the Queenstown Airport Facebook page.
Air New Zealand’s chief operational integrity and safety officer, David Morgan, acknowledged the disruption caused by the incident. He confirmed that four inbound flights had been canceled, and one flight had returned to Christchurch. Additionally, six outbound flights to Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch were canceled. Morgan expressed apologies to affected passengers, emphasizing that safety remained their top priority.
A spokesperson for Jetstar noted that two of their flights had also been impacted by the incident. Hayley Barbour, a resident of Wānaka, shared her experience of her mother-in-law’s flight cancellation and the subsequent waiting at the airport’s car park. Despite the initial delays, Air New Zealand promptly rebooked her mother-in-law on a flight for the following morning to ensure she could attend her great-niece’s wedding.
Barbour expressed disappointment in the lack of information provided by the airport to passengers waiting outside, highlighting that they had relied on Facebook for updates. Witnesses who passed by the airport noted a significant police presence throughout the area.
Tom Clarke and Luisa Navanteri, a couple from Sydney, found themselves waiting at the airport for a flight that had been delayed from 2:25 pm to 3:30 pm. Having spent a week in Queenstown on vacation, they assumed that the flight would proceed as scheduled. However, both passengers and airport security remained unaware of the situation, causing confusion and uncertainty.
New Zealand singer and songwriter Michele Ducray, known for her ‘dark pop’ genre, was also caught up in the incident. Ducray was en route to Auckland to promote her new EP Throne of Mine when she was directed away from the airport by security. She recounted the chaotic scene, with security personnel equally unaware of the situation until information circulated online, confirming the bomb threat.
Ducray expressed her frustration and inconvenience, as her radio interview with The Edge will now proceed via Zoom, and her Auckland show at the 13th Floor had to be rescheduled.
#LATEST | Defence Force’s bomb disposal robot at Queenstown Airport after threat made https://t.co/NnkYZB2P0J pic.twitter.com/XkqVxHAdsJ
— nzherald (@nzherald) October 6, 2023
