Airport’s security breach deliberate

A woman deliberately dodged security at Auckland Airport’s domestic terminal yesterday, delaying seven flights and affecting around 500 passengers.

Domestic travellers had to be rescreened after it was noticed a woman had deliberately got past security by choosing an unmanned metal detector.

At least two planes were unloaded and there were chaotic scenes as frustrated passengers were forced to go through security again.

Police were waiting at Wellington Airport to meet the woman and interview her after her flight landed in the capital just before 4pm.

Mike Richards, a spokesman for the Aviation Security Service, said all screening was suspended while the woman’s movements were tracked on CCTV. ‘‘The female passenger evaded security by going through an unmanned lane.’’

He said a Jetstar plane had to be ‘‘deplaned’’.

Auckland Airport spokeswoman Kate Thompson said passengers on flight NZ543 to Christchurch were also offloaded.

Richards added that the plane on which the woman was travelling was searched as a precaution.

Airport staff confirmed there had been a screening issue at the domestic terminal following reports by travellers of large queues and delays.

One passenger was frustrated that ‘‘no info’’ had been offered to affected travellers, adding that airline staff were ‘‘walking around shouting’’ during the incident.

Takeoff Espresso’s manager, Rongo Tuaineit, said she had never seen the airport so busy. ‘‘People were everywhere. It was like we were at a concert.’’

Chef Peng Kilmartin said domestic passengers had had to wait in a 45-minute queue before being rescreened as ‘‘hundreds’’ of people filled the room.

Auckland Airport’s screening failure comes just over a month after its security system broke down, bringing the international terminal to a halt.