Plane returns to Sydney in security scare

[jenat-lai]

A SECURITY scare caused the return of a Korean Airlines flight to Sydney Airport overnight four hours after its departure.

The plane was on its way to Seoul when it was ordered back to Sydney because of a security issue with a passenger and his baggage, a spokesman for Transport Minister John Anderson said.

The Korean Airlines flight had taken off about 8pm (AEST) and was back at Sydney Airport by midnight.

"There was a security issue involving one passenger and his bags and we were of the view that the plane shouldn't have taken off," the spokesman said.

"The plane was ordered to return to Sydney by our department's office of transport security."

The passenger's baggage was removed from the plane on the flight's return to Sydney, but the passenger in question remained on board, the spokesman said.

"I don't believe anybody left the plane on its return to Sydney except for one woman who did leave but for unrelated reasons."

It was allowed to take off early this morning with "everything considered to be fine", the spokesman said.

The incident was being investigated by the Office of Transport Security, he said.

"Obviously we take any issues involving aviation security very, very seriously and there were further checks done at Sydney."


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[jenat-lai]

The Korean Airlines flight had taken off about 8pm (AEST) and was back at Sydney Airport by midnight.
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From the fact that I live near Sydney airport, and from insiders knowledge I know for a fact that the aircraft was not on the ground "By midnight" at all, but landed at around 1:25am I had returned from a rehearsal on the north side and was still eating some dinner at midnight, listening to music. The aircraft went overhead (loud things those 747-400's) when I was nearly asleep in bed.

[Zaia]

If they're that accurate on the time the aircraft landed, maybe they're being just as accurate when they said 'everything seemed to be fine.'

[Sarevok]

They should have checked bagga properly before loading them into the aircraft. That would saved time and prevented hassling the passengers.