Perth flight locked down over white powder

PASSENGERS arriving at Perth Airport from the WA Pilbara town of Onslow were quarantined after a mystery white powder was found in the luggage hold of a Virgin Australia aircraft.

Firefighters in chemical suits boarded the plane after it landed at Perth airport on Tuesday morning and helped passengers evacuate before securing the substance – believed to be a white powder – and removing it from the aircraft.

Officials quickly established that the substance was not explosive and at about 1pm Virgin Australia confirmed that the white powder was harmless.

The passengers were mostly FIFO workers and were held in an airport lounge while staff from the Chemistry Centre attempted to determine what the substance was.

Source: Perth flight locked down over white powder | Perth Now