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Scare At Brunei Airport
By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - A suspicious bag found in one of the rooms at the airport terminal triggered a security alert yesterday afternoon prompting the airport building to be closed, and staff and passengers evacuated.

The airport was closed for three hours resulting in the disruption of two departing flights and three arriving flights. Over 500 departing passengers were affected.

The lockdown began at 3.50pm and eventually ended at 6.20pm after police ensured that thee contents of the bag did not contain any items found to be hazardous.

Earlier, the police had examined the bag using x-ray and found something suspicious that could have endangered the passengers, airport terminal building and aircraft resulting in the closure of the airport.

Some of the passengers expressed their view that they should have been given adequate information without delay.

There was a long jam along the road leading to the airport after the police had cordoned off the area.

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The Department of Civil Aviation's Director, Pg Hj Abd Rahman bin PSI Pg Hj Ismail, told the media that a passenger had alerted the police after noticing the unattended luggage. He also said that they did not know who owned the bag.

The police immediately took appropriate action in accordance with the "Bomb Threat Procedure for Brunei International Airport Terminal Building".

Aside from the police, specialised squad from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces were also at the scene, according to Acting ACP Pg Hj Ash bin Pg Hj Ismail, the Acting Director of Operations for Royal Brunei Police Force.

Four flights that arrived during the closure of the airport were parked at the apron of the runaway - a remote parking space of the airport. AirAsia flight was rerouted to Labuan before making its way to Brunei close to 7.30pm. The passengers were later processed through the special immigration and customs clearance.

The airport was reopened after the all clear was given at around 6.20pm. Pg Hj Abd Rahman pointed out that passengers on the Hong Kong flight at 6.30pm were processed as normal.

The police thanked the public, airport staff and passengers for their support and cooperation during the evacuation. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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