Flight Delays at Japan Airport

TOKYO — A missing pair of scissors led to significant disruptions at New Chitose Airport, resulting in over 200 flight cancellations and delays. The incident unfolded on Saturday when staff at a store within the airport reported the scissors missing. In response, Hokkaido Airports Co. Ltd. temporarily suspended all flights and closed security checkpoints to conduct thorough inspections, affecting a total of 201 flights, including 129 departures and 72 arrivals, along with 36 cancellations. Passengers who had already undergone security screening were required to be re-screened, and security checks were halted for approximately two hours to ensure safety. The scissors were eventually located by an employee the following day, after a search confirmed they were indeed the missing item. The airport operator attributed the incident to "insufficient management" by the store tenant and pledged to investigate the matter further to prevent future occurrences. The investigation is ongoing, particularly since the scissors must be retrieved from a locked storage locker each time they are used. Among those affected by the delays was the Japanese rock band 9mm Parabellum Bullet, which missed its performance at the Rising Sun music festival due to a canceled flight. While some travelers expressed frustration on social media, others commended the staff for their handling of the situation, highlighting the importance of reporting such incidents promptly.