The owner of the suitcase was arrested by authorities, but was later released without any charges.
Melbourne’s Avalon Airport was partially closed for several hours on Thursday after a bomb alert caused by a laser hair removal device and a package of hot chocolate found during a security check.
Police were called to the airport, located about 50 kilometers southwest of Melbourne, just before 6am local time, 9pm Lisbon, after a suspicious package was identified during baggage screening. The incident led to the delay of several domestic flights, although international connections were not affected.
The bomb squad analyzed the contents of the luggage and concluded that the suspicious objects were a laser hair removal device and a box of hot chocolate. The owner of the suitcase was arrested by authorities, but was later released without any charges.
According to Inspector Nick Uebergang, from the Victoria Police, the situation prolonged due to the man’s uncooperative behavior during the authorities’ intervention. The airport reopened about four hours after the incident began.
Several passengers reported moments of confusion while the airport was blocked. Some said they had not received information about what was happening, while others described a strong police presence in the immediate vicinity of the terminal.
The company Jetstar, which operates domestic and international flights from Avalon Airport, recorded the cancellation of two domestic flights, while several other connections were delayed.
