Lost Suitcases in Airport Restrooms

Want to cause chaos at an airport? Leave a suitcase in the restroom:

Three incoming flights from London were cancelled and about 150 others were delayed for up to three hours, while the army’s bomb squad carried out its investigation, before giving the all-clear at about 5pm. Passengers were told to leave the arrivals hall, main check-in area at the terminal building, the food courts and shops, and gather at safety areas outside. The scare led to major traffic disruption around the airport, with tailbacks stretching back about a mile. Some passengers faced lengthy walks to the airport after being dropped off by shuttle bus from the city centre.

Oddest quote is from a police spokesperson:

“Inquires are under way to establish how the luggage came to be located within the toilets.”

My guess is that someone left it there.

I’d suggest this as a good denial-of-service attack, but certainly there is a video camera recording of the person bringing the suitcase into the airport. The article says it was left in the “domestic arrivals area.” I don’t know if that’s inside airport security or not.

Posted on July 10, 2009 at 12:45 PM • 54 Comments