Over the weekend, 36 flights were cancelled and more than 200 more were delayed at Japan’s New Chitose Airport after a pair of scissors went missing from a shop near the boarding gates.

Security checks at the domestic terminal were suspended for about two hours on Saturday morning, causing temporary inconvenience for hundreds of travelers. This led to traffic jams and long queues as passengers had to undergo security screening again in the departure hall.

The missing scissors were finally discovered the next day in the same store.

Although the scissors were not found on the day they disappeared, security checks and flights eventually resumed, with many travelers who had experienced cancellations and delays returning home after Japan’s annual Bon Festival.

Authorities asked Hokkaido Airport to investigate the cause and prevent a recurrence.

“We are aware that this occurred due to inadequate storage and management systems in the store,” Hokkaido Airport said. “We are aware that this is also an incident that could be linked to an aircraft hijacking or terrorism and will again work to create comprehensive management awareness.”

The incident was an example of the safety of the Japanese aviation industry.

New Chitose is one of Japan’s busiest airports, serving the world’s second-busiest domestic air route connecting Tokyo and Sapporo. Over 15 million passengers used the airport in 2022.