Direct flights connecting New Zealand to India could be in place as early as 2028 and a fresh search for Malaysian Airlines MH370 wreckage has been approved. Video / NZ Herald
The Civil Aviation Authority is investigating claims of discrimination by an Aviation Security Service officer during a procedural screening.
“Michelle” alleges the officer was rude and called her group “annoying” to another passenger.
The Civil Aviation Authority is reviewing CCTV footage but does not believe staff member was racially motivated.
A woman who flew from Auckland to Queenstown with eight of her relatives claims an aviation security officer at Auckland Airport discriminated against the group during procedural screening.
Aviation officials are investigating, saying it was imperative “professional standards are upheld”. A subsequent statement said CAA and Avsec were backing the officer.
“At this stage, we have no reason to believe that any reaction from our staff member was racially motivated or of a discriminatory nature,” said an Avsec spokesperson.
Early on March 15, Michelle – who only gave her first name – arrived at Auckland Airport’s domestic terminal with her parents, two uncles, two aunts and two children for their flight’s departure at 7.10am.
As they passed through the security checkpoint, the group’s elderly members began putting their belongings in the tray.
Michelle alleges a “rude” female officer told them they had placed their bags the “wrong” way around and asked they reorganise their trays so their backpacks were “flattened down”.
Michelle alleges the officer became frustrated by the group as they tried to pack their trays accordingly.
She said it might have appeared they were “a bit slow” to organise their items, but one of her children is disabled, the other is a toddler and many of her older family members aren’t frequent flyers.
“Six of them can’t understand English. Imagine, I have to explain to each one of them [how to organise the tray], and after that I have to tell them that you need to take off your jacket, put your cellphone out,” Michelle told the Herald.
“It actually takes quite a bit of time.”
Once they’d moved their belongings through security screening, Michelle – who was the last of the group to go through detectors – overheard the officer in question telling the passenger behind her that “they [the group] are so annoying”.
The alleged incident took place during security screening at Auckland Airport's domestic terminal. Photo / Alex Burton
Michelle claims the officer didn’t know she spoke English, since she talked to her uncles and aunts in Chinese, and believes the officer would not have thought she could understand the alleged comment.
Michelle says she is used to airport security staff being “straightforward” and “to the point” when dealing with passengers.
But she believes the professional lines were crossed when the officer made the alleged comment to a fellow passenger.
“What I’m not happy with is she actually talked to another passenger and said we are annoying. This part I’m quite upset about.”
Michelle has lived in New Zealand for 23 years, and both of her children were born here. She says this is the first time she has ever felt discriminated against in the country.
She has since filed a formal complaint with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The Civil Aviation Authority confirmed it had received a complaint and was investigating the passenger's claims. Photo / Civil Aviation Authority
The CAA confirmed that a complaint had been received and acknowledged to the complainant.
