Airports Association chief says Avalon breach ‘can’t be allowed to happen again’

A major security breach at Avalon Airport has sparked concerns over security protocols at smaller regional airports nationwide.

Security protocols at regional airports have come under scrutiny after a major security breach at Avalon Airport.

Multiple agencies, including Victoria Police and the Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre, are investigating how a 17-year-old gained access to a domestic Jetstar flight with a loaded shotgun.

CEO of the Australian Airports Association Simon Westaway said they were waiting anxiously to see what the outcome would be.

Avalon Airport where the teenager was arrested. Picture: Aaron Francis

“The criticality of ensuring safety and security is paramount at our airports,” he said.

“Be that on the ground, within the terminals or getting onto the aircraft and on tarmac. It obviously has got to be at exactly the same level in all aspects.

“The Victorian police are rightfully having a look at the overall situation that unfolded.

“We will be very keen on what the outcome of that is. We don’t want to be kneejerk, but we are obviously aware that this is the type of circumstance that simply cannot be allowed to happen again.

“And more importantly, make sure there aren’t any processes or elements that aren’t in place that need to be in place.”

Security requirements at Australian airports are based on a class system established under the Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005, which ranks airports in tiers.

Due to being a Tier 2 airport Avalon is not required to have a permanent police presence like the nine Tier 1 airports in Cairns, Townsville, Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Darwin.

Mr Westaway said the federal government was behind that system and any changes would have to come from them.

The teen was apprehended before anyone was hurt. Picture: Channel 7

“We’re not trying to play this incident down at all, it was clearly serious,” he said.

“I mean, to put a level of perspective on it, we have around 60 million one way trips out of our operations each and every year.

“In terms of the people returning on these flights we are looking towards 120 million customer movements in and out of terminals every year now.

“Airports are very much back and managing more people now than we were pre the pandemic. So it’s at record levels. But putting that to one side this was clearly an isolated but still very concerning event.”

The teen is now facing 12 charges, including unlawfully taking control of an aircraft, endangering the safe operation of an aircraft, unlawfully taking control of an aircraft, bomb hoax and possession of a firearm.

He was remanded to reappear at children’s court later this month.

Originally published as Airports Association chief says Avalon breach ‘can’t be allowed to happen again’