In a bizarre incident that has raised concerns about airport security, a woman in Australia was arrested after she breached security and ran onto the tarmac in an attempt to flag down her missed flight. The incident occurred on the evening of November 1, 2023, at Canberra Airport. The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, can be seen in video footage chasing a QantasLink Embraer E190AR aircraft, seemingly trying to catch the pilot’s attention. Security alarms can be heard sounding in the background as the woman continues to walk around the aircraft, getting close to the cockpit.
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The woman managed to stay on the tarmac for a significant amount of time without interference from authorities, leading many social media users to express their concerns about airport security. One comment even suggested that if the incident had occurred during a cricket match, the woman would have been tackled immediately.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) took the woman into custody at 19:30 local time. She was charged with two counts of damaging property, one count of entering a security zone without permission, and one count of possessing a small quantity of cannabis¹. The woman has been refused bail and was due to appear in court on November 3,2023
This incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of airport security measures. It is alarming that a single individual was able to breach security and access the tarmac, potentially putting herself and others in danger. This event underscores the need for airports to continually review and update their security protocols to ensure the safety of all passengers and staff. The incident did not cause significant delays, with flights at the airport only delayed by about 10 minutes. However, it serves as a stark reminder of the lengths some individuals will go to in order not to miss their flights and the potential security risks this can pose.
