Updated ,first published
Avalon Airport has been plunged into lockdown and flights are delayed after a bomb scare about 6am on Thursday morning.
“The domestic terminal at Melbourne Avalon Airport was evacuated this morning following the identification of a suspicious item during the screening process,” an airport spokesperson said. “Victoria Police attended and an individual has been detained.
“The matter is now being managed by police and any further enquiries should be directed to Victoria Police.”
A police spokesperson said officers were conducting a safety check at the airport. “The building has been evacuated and [the] area cordoned off as a precaution while the investigation is ongoing,” they said.
Nine News reported that the police bomb squad was at the airport.
Witness David told 3AW there was a “total shutdown” at the airport on the outskirts of Geelong.
“There’s people queued up for miles. They blocked it off at the entranceway where the roundabout is. We’ve been here for at least an hour now, almost.”
David, who is travelling to Brisbane, said people had walked out of the airport on foot. “The whole area is closed … they’ve blocked us off, but no one’s telling us a thing.”
Another caller said travellers pushing luggage trolleys had spilled out from the building onto Avalon Road, near the Princes Highway.
Witness Lisa told ABC they arrived at the airport about 6.50am for their flight to Brisbane to visit family.
“No one knew what was going on … no information at the time,” she said. “We knew something was fairly significant, lots of police cars going into the airport. A plane just landed from Bali, passengers leaving on foot, still a bit of mayhem here.”
Jetstar texted passengers to confirm the airport was closed due to a security incident, according to a screenshot that 3AW radio presenter Jacqui Felgate shared on Instagram.
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.From our partners
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