Queensland's Rockhampton Airport shut down after security scare, reopened after several hours; Virgin Australia and Qantas Link flights affected

Queensland's Rockhampton Airport (ROK) was shut down for a few hours on Wednesday (November 12) following a security scare. The airport, which is located about 5 kilometers from Rockhampton's CBD, was closed in the evening at 5:15 PM local time until further notice as security agencies and Queensland Police Service officers launched an investigation as passengers were evacuated as a precautionary measure.

"All outgoing flights have been suspended, and all incoming flights have been diverted until further notice. Anyone travelling is advised to contact their airline directly or check the airline website directly," the airport posted on its website after the security scare.

Announcing the shut down, Rockhampton Airport at 5:15PM local time posted on its Facebook page a message. "The Rockhampton Airport Terminal remains closed until further notice while investigations are ongoing. Commercial flights will not operate until the terminal reopens. Some other flight services such as RFDS and CapRescue remain operational. The Antonov has landed safely. It was scheduled to arrive around the time of the incident and could not be diverted. Anyone travelling is advised to contact their airline directly or check the airline’s website for the latest flight information."


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A couple of hours later, Rockhampton Regional Council posted another update on its Facebook page, saying some flights have resumed. "The Rockhampton Airport Terminal has been reopened, and some commercial flights have resumed. Queensland Police Service conducted extensive testing and have confirmed the terminal is safe. Anyone travelling is advised to contact their airline directly or check the airline’s website for the latest flight information. Rockhampton Regional Council would like to thank passengers and staff for their patience and cooperation during the incident," the message read.

The council also advised passengers and travellers to enquire from Qantas and Virgin Australia about the status of their flights. However, there was no information about the kind of security issue which forced the airport's closure.

Qantas: 13 13 13 | https://www.qantas.com

Virgin Australia: 13 67 89 | https://www.virginaustralia.com

Brisbane based Virgin Australia and Qantas Link, a full-service, regional brand of Australian flag carrier airline Qantas, operate from Rockhampton Airport connecting the cities of Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Brisbane. The airport transports approximately 650,000 passengers each year.