How Missing Scissors Threw a Japanese Airport into Lockdown

Airports frequently halt operations for security issues such as bomb threats, unattended luggage, VIP visits, and more. 

However, on the morning of August 17th at New Chitose Airport (CTS) in Hokkaido, Japan, the airport shut down for a peculiar security threat: missing scissors. 

The Incident

At around 9:30 a.m. local time on Saturday August 17, 2024, an airside retail shop (located post-security) noticed a missing pair of scissors. 

The shop employees quickly reported the missing scissors to airport officials, who, after consulting with the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Tourism, surprisingly decided to suspend security screenings and aircraft operations at 10:20 a.m. 

All passengers already airside were forced to exit the terminal and clear security again. Despite this, the scissors were never found and airport officials decided to resume operations and reopen the terminal.

Departing and arriving aircraft were delayed as the airport shut down for a little over two hours, opening a little after 12:20 p.m. Some arriving aircraft were forced to divert to alternate destinations as CTS remained closed. 

In total, the airport reported 190 flight delays and 35 cancellations. The delayed flights came at a poor time for passengers who were traveling home after the Bon holiday. 

Most passengers were able to continue to their final destinations after the airport reopened. However, a few unlucky passengers were stranded overnight before departing the following morning. The airport did provide sleeping bags and mats for affected passengers. 

How Did Missing Scissors Shut Down an Airport?

It remains unclear why airport officials decided to shut down the entire airport over a pair of scissors. Typically, such dramatic responses are reserved for only the most severe security threats. 

Many questions still remain, such as why the airport shop even had a loose pair of scissors lying around. Sharp objects in airports are usually strictly regulated, with airport restaurants not even providing metal knifes to customers. 

In addition, many wonder why missing scissors was such a major issue to shut down the airport, but not a big enough issue to keep the airport closed for more than two hours.