Vibrator shuts down airport
Oct 5, 10:20 AM (ET)
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) - A scare triggered by a vibrating sex toy shut down a major Australian regional airport for almost an hour Monday, police said.
The vibrating object was discovered Monday morning inside a garbage can at the terminal cafeteria at Mackay Airport in Queensland state, a
police spokeswoman said. Cafeteria manager Lynne Bryant said her staff had been cleaning tables when they noticed a strange humming noise coming from the garbage can.
"It was rather disconcerting when the rubbish bin started humming
furiously," Bryant said. "We called security and next minute everybody
was being evacuated while they checked it out."
The police spokeswoman said the terminal was evacuated immediately.
Passengers who had arrived on a recent flight, check-in staff, cafeteria employees and hire car personnel were all forced to leave.
"Another two flights were expected to land at that stage but alternate
arrangements were made for the passengers to collect their luggage away from the terminal," the spokeswoman said on the usual condition of anonymity. She said the emergency alert was canceled after 45 minutes when the package was identified as an adult sex toy.
Bryant said in retrospect, the humming sounded exactly like a vibrator,but it was better to be safe then sorry. "You can't afford to take chances," Bryant said.
