Western Australia’s Perth international airport was brought to a standstill in mid-May for 12 hours after a suspicious package was found on the tarmac. Incoming flights were diverted and eight international flights were cancelled.
A package, which was among unaccompanied freight on a Malaysia Airlines flight, was found on the tarmac underneath an aircraft by baggage handlers who identified the package as suspicious.
The package, eventually deemed safe, was one of four boxes consigned to a Perth resident and reportedly contained a lamp, similar in design to a lava lamp, with a small motor in its base. During transit, the motor is believed to have somehow switched itself on, which ultimately raised the suspicion of baggage handlers.