Passengers wait at a terminal inside Changi Airport in Singapore. Photo by Reuters
A “security incident” occurred at Terminal 4 at Singapore’s Changi Airport on Jan. 1 after some passengers waiting to board a flight were held in the same holding area as a group of arriving travelers, resulting in confusion and delays.
The situation was promptly identified, and addressed in accordance with established security protocols, The Straits Times reported citing a source from the airport.
“Passengers were temporarily held in separate areas to restore the proper flow arrangements, and we provided refreshments to arriving passengers in the baggage claim hall,” the airport added.
A passenger on Flight AK721 told Lianhe Zaobao that after disembarking in Singapore, she found the glass doors in the holding area closed, preventing passengers from leaving.
She added that airport staff later asked all passengers whether they were arriving in or departing from Singapore.
The departing passengers were directed to another boarding gate at about 11 p.m. The AirAsia group were then allowed to leave the gate.
Changi has been voted the world’s best airport 13 times by the London-based aviation consultancy Skytrax and is consistently praised by travelers for its cleanliness, modernity, and efficient immigration procedures.
Last year, some tourists complained about slow baggage handling upon entering the airport. Then, the airport operator issued an apology and pledged to ensure a smooth experience for all travelers.
