Shock Brisbane Airport CCTV footage prompts Easter warning
Source: Brisbane Airport
One of the country’s busiest airports has issued a major warning ahead of the popular Easter travel weekend – backing it up with alarming footage.
Brisbane Airport has released security footage of concerning incidents across its terminals as it teams up with Kidsafe to urge travellers to prioritise safety ahead of the busy long weekend.
It shows travellers coming to grief as they try to wrangle bulky suitcases onto escalators, a woman getting hit with a car park boom gate and, worryingly, an elderly woman on a walking frame tumbling over after she is left alone on a travelator.
A woman tumbles over while her companion wrestles with a suitcase. Photo: Brisbane Airport
Brisbane Airport head of safety Peter Dorn said many airport accidents were linked to traveller distraction.
“People often experience ‘airport brain’,” he said.
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“They’re thinking about flights, tickets, passports, and whether they’ve locked up the house.
“Brisbane Airport is a safe place, but we want to make it even safer.”
The footage highlights preventable injuries involving older travellers, particularly in combination with a heavy suitcase and an escalator. Such situations can lead to loss of balance, falls, and strain-related injuries.
“Easter is one of the busiest travel periods at Brisbane Airport, with more than a million people on the move across the holiday period,” Dorn said.
“We want to equip parents, carers, and all travellers with the knowledge and tools they need to make safe choices as they move through the airport.”
Another common cause of injury, particularly for younger travellers, involves those riding on suitcases through the terminal. Dorn said it might seem harmless – and an easy way to move children through a busy airport – but it could lead to falls and injuries.
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“Suitcases do a great job of carrying luggage, not people, and their misuse can quickly turn into a serious safety risk,” he said.
“When children ride on suitcases, their high centre of gravity combined with small wheels makes them unstable and prone to tipping over. This has resulted in children hitting the tile floor and being injured.
“We understand parents are juggling a lot when heading for a flight but using luggage to transport children is unsafe.”
The airport said 30 per cent of all of its injuries were on escalators and travelators. It advises passengers with bulky baggage to use lifts instead, especially if mobility is a concern.
Brisbane Airport welcomed 25 million passengers in 2025. There were 187 public injuries reported, most of them minor, requiring first aid treatment for issues such as bumps or scratches.
“Despite the number of passengers growing year on year, accidents involving the public declined in 2024 and 2025, and we’d like to see it even lower, so everyone gets safely to their destination,” Dorn said.
Kidsafe Queensland CEO Susan Teerds also urged parents to ensure children were travelling safely.
“By taking a little extra care and keeping an eye on children, everyone can help make their journey through the airport safer and smoother,” she said.
“Keep your eyes on your kids and within arm’s reach. Particularly around equipment like baggage carousels and escalators.”
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