Overview
- Security screening at Avalon triggered a full evacuation of the domestic terminal just before 6am when an x‑ray operator flagged a suspicious item and police were called.
- Victoria Police attended with the Bomb Response Unit and detained one passenger during a safety check, and that person was not charged after the investigation.
- Bomb squad technicians inspected the item and found it was a laser hair removal device packaged with a hot chocolate container, a combination that produced an alarm on the x‑ray image.
- The closure forced road and terminal cordons, turned away passengers and caused multiple flight delays and cancellations that left hundreds stranded for hours.
- Passengers reported long waits and at least one alleged harsh treatment by officers during the response, raising questions about screening sensitivity and police handling that may prompt procedural review.