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Traffic at one of Japan's busiest airports came to a standstill recently after a pair of scissors went missing.
Concern over the scissors – which were used at a store in the departure waiting area of a domestic flight – led to an hours-long security check at New Chitose Airport (CTS), which serves the Sapporo area on the northern island of Hokkaido.
The airport reported that 36 flights were cancelled on August 17, and another 201 flights were delayed amid the search operations.
There were concerns that a potential terrorist might have taken the scissors and used them as a weapon on the plane. Eventually, the airport said the tools were found and flights were able to resume.
“We are aware that the incident occurred due to the lack of proper usage, storage and management systems by the store's users,” New Chitose Airport operators said in a statement.
“We will investigate this incident, determine its causes and prevent its recurrence. We will also confirm that this incident may be related to a hijacking and terrorist attack, and we will ensure that all airport personnel are fully aware of the importance of management.”
Among those affected by the security issues was Japanese rock band 9mm Parabellum Bullet, which missed its performance at the annual Rising Sun music festival in Hokkaido due to a flight cancellation.
“We will definitely take revenge!!” the band said in statement This announcement was posted on the event website, while the festival itself announced that it would not offer refunds for tickets.
Many travelers have taken to the Internet to express their frustration.
“I feel like crying because my flight got cancelled because someone lost a pair of scissors,” one traveler wrote on X.
“Because of this incident, the flight I was supposed to take has been cancelled, and now my family reunion I was looking forward to has been cut short. This is very disappointing,” another wrote.
However, others praised the airport for taking the potential scissors theft seriously.
“As a traveler, I am grateful that they are taking such comprehensive measures to ensure safety,” wrote one X user.
Editor's note: CNN's Yumi Asada contributed to this report.
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