Airport snooze, lose

Woman misses her flight after nap in lift

SLEEPING people at airports are far from unusual but imagine the surprise at Cairns Airport when staff discovered a woman taking a nap in a lift.

The older woman was found snoozing in a lift attached to an aerobridge more than three hours after her flight had departed.

Cairns Airport chief executive officer Norris Carter said that the airport could not explain the unusual situation.

The passenger had been escorted to the lift so she could board the flight, which took off just after 3am, from the aerobridge.

“Approximately three hours later staff from another airline called the lift to the lower level and the doors opened. The passenger was on the floor of the lift and immediately stood up and walked out,” Mr Carter said.

“Staff were unable to ascertain why she had not exited the lift when it reached the top floor. She told them she had laid down in the lift and had a nap.”

Mr Carter said the lift was tested and was not faulty.

After passing through the boarding gates for the delayed flight last Saturday, the woman had initially attempted to board the plane at ground level.

However, Mr Carter said her seat allocation meant she should have boarded through the front door from the aerobridge.

An airline ground handler escorted the woman back into the terminal to the lift, pushing the button for the upper level. It is understood she was found inside the lift about 7.30am.

“Our airport duty manager was called to assist her, taking her to first aid and calling emergency services as a precaution,” Mr Carter said.

She was judged to be OK to fly and was rebooked on the next available flight.

OUR AIRPORT DUTY MANAGER WAS CALLED TO ASSIST HER, TAKING HER TO FIRST AID AND CALLING EMERGENCY SERVICES AS A PRECAUTION NORRIS CARTER