Updated May 21, 2026 — 11:30am,first published May 21, 2026 — 8:45am
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A bomb scare plunged Avalon Airport into lockdown for several hours and forced flight cancellations on Thursday morning after a suspicious package was flagged by security.
The package was later confirmed to be a laser hair removal device and a cylindrical cardboard hot chocolate container.
Travellers wait outside Avalon Airport after it was evacuated over a bomb threat. Justin McManus
The police bomb squad were called to the regional airport at about 6am after security screening detected the item, forcing the airport to close its domestic terminal. A Melbourne man was initially detained, an airport spokesperson said.
Victoria Police Inspector Nick Uebergang said the package was deemed suspicious after it was X-rayed by airport security, who then inspected it further and “determined it not to be quite right” based on the way it was packed. The Victoria Police bomb response unit sent in a specialist robot, which confirmed it was non-suspicious.
“It’s fair to say, too, that the person who had the bag probably wasn’t too co-operative with us to start off with, too, which made things a little bit difficult,” Uebergang said.
“It probably could have averted things, and we could have got out of here a lot quicker. Just he wasn’t giving us too much information at all on what was in his bag.”
Passengers wait in the carpark after Avalon Airport went into lockdown.Justin McManus
The man was detained but released after it became clear there was no bomb threat.
Two flights to Sydney were cancelled, and a flight to Brisbane was delayed. The domestic terminal has since reopened, and the international terminal was not affected.
An airport spokesperson said:“The response demonstrated the vigilance of the screening and security processes, with precautionary measures taken immediately.”
Uebergang said Avalon had gone above and beyond with its security, and that he believed passengers affected by the cancellations and delays appreciated thorough security measures.
A stranded passenger waits outside the airport.Justin McManus
The airport spokesperson said the international terminal remained open. Passengers travelling from Bali touched down at Avalon at 6.55 am, and an outbound Jetstar flight to Bali is scheduled for this evening.
Two flights to Sydney were cancelled, Jetstar confirmed, while a morning flight to Brisbane has been delayed.
Manjeet Singh arrived at the airport about 7am to catch a flight to Brisbane for a business trip, but was directed by security to wait in the car park.
“Since seven, we’ve been in this car park … there’s no arrangements, no bathroom, no toilet, no beverages, no nothing,” he said, adding that his flight had been delayed further. If there’s an incident, that needs to be dealt with – but [at the] same time, they need to take care of people who are stranded here.”
A family entertaining themselves during the lockdown.Justin McManus
Singh said travellers had only been told it was a “security incident” by airport staff and that he’d received no communication from his airline.
When Vivian Grills arrived at Avalon airport about 7.30am, there was already a large queue of cars stretching back from the terminal. She was told there was a security breach and that she needed to park and wait in a nearby “paddock”.
Grills wasn’t overly worried about the bomb scare. “They’re doing their job,” she said. But the Brisbane-bound traveller felt the airport and airlines had not given passengers enough communication or support.
The bomb squad preparing to enter Avalon Airport, where a man was detained after a suspicious package was found in his luggage.Nine News
The airline texted passengers to confirm the airport was closed due to a security incident and that their flights had been delayed.
The security incident comes one day after a court heard details about an armed teenager’s alleged attempt to hijack a plane at Avalon Airport in March 2025.
It is alleged that a then-17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, wore a high-vis vest and attempted to carry a gun onto a Jetstar flight to Sydney, before being stopped by a passenger.
The court heard he had allegedly started falling out with friends, made new friends who had “shown him the way”, and found his life’s purpose.
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Angus Delaney is a reporter at The Age. Email him at angus.delaney@theage.com.au or contact him securely on Signal at angusdelaney.31Connect via email.
Chris Zappone is a senior reporter covering aviation and business. He is former digital foreign editor.Connect via X, Facebook or email.From our partners