Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Incidents where Airline Passengers are Left on Aerobridges or Locked Out of Arrival Gates at Changi Airport

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Transport 

a.     how many incidents of passengers being left on aerobridges or locked out of arrival gates at Changi Airport have occurred in the past five years; 

b.     whether ground handling agents are required to report such incidents and what penalties apply for lapses; 

c.     how does the Ministry regulate adherence to protocols to assist vulnerable passengers during disembarkation; and 

d.     whether the Ministry requires measures to be implemented to ensure seamless coordination and prevent similar oversights in the future.

Reply by Minister for Transport Chee Hong Tat:

1..    Based on past records, the recent incident on 29 December 2024 is the first at Changi Airport where arriving passengers were left on an aerobridge upon disembarkation and the arrival gate was locked before they left the aerobridge.

2.     In line with international industry practices, it is the responsibility of airlines, assisted by their appointed ground handling agents (GHAs), to ensure all passengers safely disembark from the aircraft and exit the aerobridge, before the aerobridge door leading to the terminal is locked.

3.     In the 29 December 2024 incident, the airline’s crew did not see the three affected passengers when they were waiting at the aerobridge after disembarkation, and had mistakenly indicated to the GHA that the aerobridge was clear of passengers. The GHA staff did not conduct a thorough check along the entire section of the aerobridge before locking the door, which should have been done as part of the standard operating procedure.

4.     A staff from the GHA’s service provider for persons with reduced mobility had accompanied the affected passengers, as one of them required wheelchair assistance. She made phone calls to various parties to unlock the aerobridge door, but she did not call Changi Airport Group’s (CAG) emergency hotline, which is the right number to call in such situations. There was therefore a delay in unlocking the door, and the affected passengers remained at the aerobridge for around 16 minutes before CAG was alerted and the door was unlocked.

5.     The airline has apologised to the affected passengers and provided them with compensation for the incident. The airline has also worked with its GHA to remind the airline’s crew and ground staff to improve their coordination. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and CAG have shared the learning points from this incident with other airlines and GHA staff to avoid future recurrence.