Qantas says it has stood down a baggage handler who is believed to be responsible for stealing a camel costume out of a man’s bag at Sydney airport and wearing it on the tarmac.
David Cox was waiting to board his Qantas flight when he saw a baggage handler wearing the costume.
He says he was shocked to realise his luggage had been interfered with.
“It’s the kind of larrikin thing that an Australian would do but given the current situation, particularly with Schapelle Corby, the issues of airport security and privacy and your luggage remaining secure, it’s obviously a poor decision,” Mr Cox said.
“I obviously was flabbergasted, my jaw dropped to the ground,” he added.
Qantas chief executive officer Geoff Dixon says the incident was caught on CCTV and the person will be dismissed if an investigation finds him guilty.
The Transport Workers Union has renewed calls for surveillance cameras to be placed in the areas where baggage is handled at airports.
The union’s Glen Nightingale says an investigation is under way into the incident and he is meeting with workers and Qantas today.
Mr Nightingale says closed-circuit television surveillance would protect both travellers and workers.
“We’re concerned about the security and the lack of security at the airport and we’ve been rallying for the last three or four years for the Federal Government for the appropriate screening, not only of the workers but also of luggage that comes through these areas,” he said.
But Mr Dixon says it is impossible to cover everything in Sydney airport with security cameras and Qantas is not in the business of spying on its staff.
He says the company receives about 35 complaints a month about interference with bags, which he says is a low level given how many people fly with the airline each year.
“We carry 30 million passengers, we have one of the most outstanding operations, security records of any airline in the world,” Mr Dixon said.
“We’re not perfect obviously because the other day showed we’re not perfect, but it did show too that we’re able to get it on camera and able to do something about it within a very short period of time.”
Meanwhile, accused drug smuggler Schapelle Corby’s legal team says it is considering how to introduce the incident as evidence in her case.
The Gold Coast businessman who is financing Corby’s defence of drug trafficking charges in Bali, says the incident is further evidence of airline staff interfering with the baggage of passengers.
Ron Bakir says he is shocked at the lack of security for luggage.
“I’m disgusted. But what it does do is to corroborate our story,” he said.
“It corroborates that there is a problem in domestic baggages throughout airports.”
Mr Bakir says it proves that Shapelle Corby is a victim.
“It could happen to anyone.”
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