Franjo Tudjman International Airport in Zagreb just can't seem to get it right. Since the airport opened, accidents keep lining one after another, the recent collision of an aircraft and a baggage transporter being the latest example. Multiple flights have been delayed or ridirected due to lack of staff, and these days, the airport is further raising the incompetence bar with weapons going off... albeit not on purpose.
Index got a report about two serious incidents that happened in recent weeks: on July 1, around 10:55, one of the security guards accidentally fired a bullet on the third floor of the airport, right next to the spot where passengers undergo a security check. Fortunately, the bullet ended up in a sand-filled container intended for those exact situations. According to the information Index was given, the incident happened about 20 metres away from passengers who heard the gunshot. After the incident, the security supervisors allegedly tried to cover up the whole thing by re-loading the gun in question with a different bullet so the entire ammunition would appear to be intact.
The same incident took place once more a month later, on July 31. Again, no one was injured. According to Index, Zagreb Airport hasn't filed a report nor pressed charges even after they watched the surveillance footage.
Representatives of Zagreb Airport confirmed there was an incident on July 1 and that they are taking necessary measures:
"Every oversight or possible irregularity gets investigated, followed by appropriate measures being taken in accordance with applicable regulations. The company Securitas Hrvatska d.o.o. performs the security check of passengers and luggage at the entrance to the protected zone of Franjo Tuđman Airport. We have been notified about the events you mentioned and have already asked Securitas Hrvatska for a report and a notice listing the corrective measures they plan to take.
To help better understand the entire situation, it's important to note the event happened during a routine handover of weapons, outside of the zone of free movement of passengers, in an enclosed chamber that's adequately equipped to prevent any person getting injured, including those participating in the procedure and others that might be present outside that space."
Securitas Hrvatska issued an official statement about the incident, confirming a gun went off during the handover of weapons during a shift change. The bullet was shot into a sand-filled container, intended for protection in case of mishandling weapons. They claim nobody's safety was in danger and that no other people were present at the scene apart from the security guards. Securitas has taken appropriate measures in order to prevent and avoid such situations in the future.
Translation of excerpts from Index.
