(no subject)
Buzzing bin empties airport
By Michael Madigan
October 5, 2004
A VIBRATING sex toy was mistaken for a bomb, causing the emergency evacuation of a crowded Mackay Airport, in country Queensland Australia, yesterday morning.
The drama left the toy's owner, a 26-year-old NSW man, acutely embarrassed.
The "personal device", as Mackay police Inspector Roger Lowe delicately put it, was placed in a rubbish bin at the airport as the man checked in for a flight.
But instead of remaining discreetly discarded, it somehow managed to turn itself on, emitting a lively buzzing sound.
"It was rather disconcerting when the rubbish bin started humming furiously," kiosk manager Lynne Bryant said.
An alarmed Ms Bryant and other staff contacted airport security who declared the vibrating bin a security risk. They contacted police who declared an emergency situation.
Mackay has a relatively small airport but it was unusually crowded yesterday at 9.15am.
There was one outgoing flight, one immediate incoming and two more due to arrive in 15 minutes.
The fire service had evacuated the terminal and police were establishing a command post when the man stepped forward to explain himself, before a curious crowd of more than 150 evacuees.
"He had apparently been given this personal device before departing but he didn't want to take it on a flight with him," Insp Lowe said.
Police were full of praise for the security-minded kiosk ladies and, surprisingly enough, the sex aid owner himself.
Insp Lowe said the situation which lasted until 9.45am was "pretty intense".
But by fessing up, the man had cleared up the confusion and had not committed any offence.
"He was very concerned about what the ramifications might be but his actions were quite innocent," Insp Lowe said.
"He was, as you can imagine, very embarrassed by the whole thing."
The Courier-Mail
By Michael Madigan
October 5, 2004
A VIBRATING sex toy was mistaken for a bomb, causing the emergency evacuation of a crowded Mackay Airport, in country Queensland Australia, yesterday morning.
The drama left the toy's owner, a 26-year-old NSW man, acutely embarrassed.
The "personal device", as Mackay police Inspector Roger Lowe delicately put it, was placed in a rubbish bin at the airport as the man checked in for a flight.
But instead of remaining discreetly discarded, it somehow managed to turn itself on, emitting a lively buzzing sound.
"It was rather disconcerting when the rubbish bin started humming furiously," kiosk manager Lynne Bryant said.
An alarmed Ms Bryant and other staff contacted airport security who declared the vibrating bin a security risk. They contacted police who declared an emergency situation.
Mackay has a relatively small airport but it was unusually crowded yesterday at 9.15am.
There was one outgoing flight, one immediate incoming and two more due to arrive in 15 minutes.
The fire service had evacuated the terminal and police were establishing a command post when the man stepped forward to explain himself, before a curious crowd of more than 150 evacuees.
"He had apparently been given this personal device before departing but he didn't want to take it on a flight with him," Insp Lowe said.
Police were full of praise for the security-minded kiosk ladies and, surprisingly enough, the sex aid owner himself.
Insp Lowe said the situation which lasted until 9.45am was "pretty intense".
But by fessing up, the man had cleared up the confusion and had not committed any offence.
"He was very concerned about what the ramifications might be but his actions were quite innocent," Insp Lowe said.
"He was, as you can imagine, very embarrassed by the whole thing."
The Courier-Mail