Security breach at Auckland Airport leads to major delays

The Civil Aviation Authority says delays at Auckland Airport on Wednesday morning were caused by someone bypassing security without being screened.

The security breach forced domestic passengers to leave the departure lounge and go through security a second time, creating significant delays.

Long queues are starting to clear after the security breach.

Wait times to go through security checks had been up to about an hour on Wednesday morning, with queues building up through the domestic terminal.

In a public announcement at the terminal, waiting passengers had been told to exit and scan their bags a second time due to a security breach.

Queues were starting to move more quickly by about 9am after the security breach was resolved.

Photo: RNZ

Passengers on flights arriving at the airport had also been delayed.

Regan Savage was on a 6.30am flight from Wellington, and when it landed passengers had to wait on the plane for 30 to 40 minutes.

Crew told them there had been a security breach or alert and that the area had to be “sterilised”, though they gave no details.

When he got into the terminal there were huge queues of people waiting to go through security, he told Morning Report.

Auckland Airport’s website showed more than a dozen domestic departures were delayed.

In a statement an Auckland Airport spokesperson said the breach had been resolved and Aviation Security was requiring all passengers to be rescreened.

“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.”

Air New Zealand has also been contacted for comment.

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