Bizarre airport shutdown: Who—or what—was on the runway?
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Airports are usually places of hustle and bustle, with planes coming and going, families reuniting, and the odd overpriced coffee.
But every now and then, something truly out of the ordinary happens—something that leaves everyone scratching their heads and asking, 'Did that really just happen?'
That was exactly the case at Adelaide’s Parafield Airport on Sunday afternoon, when a mysterious figure dressed in dark clothing was spotted wandering across the runway.
What followed was a scene straight out of a detective novel, complete with tactical police, fire crews, and even the trusty dog squad, all scrambling to track down the elusive intruder.
A Runway Intruder and a Vanishing Act
It all kicked off around 3:25pm, when airport staff reported seeing a man in dark clothes inside the restricted area of the airport.
Now, for those who aren’t familiar, runways are strictly off-limits to anyone who isn’t supposed to be there—so you can imagine the alarm bells that started ringing.
Within minutes, the Special Tasks and Rescue (STAR) Group, South Australia’s elite tactical police unit, was on the scene.
They were joined by fire crews and police dogs, all working together in a coordinated manhunt. The airport was promptly shut down as a precaution, with all eyes on the search for the mysterious trespasser.
But just as quickly as he appeared, the man pulled a vanishing act worthy of Houdini. Witnesses saw him flee into a nearby stormwater drain, disappearing from sight and leaving authorities scratching their heads.
A Search Like No Other
The STAR Group officers didn’t waste any time—they entered the stormwater drain around 5:30pm, determined to flush out the fugitive.
But after a thorough search, they emerged empty-handed. The man had slipped through their fingers, and his whereabouts remain unknown.
Despite the drama, airport officials confirmed that no flights were affected and no aircraft were ever in danger.
After about two hours, the all-clear was given, and flights resumed, with a plane from Whyalla touching down just after 4:45pm.
Why All the Fuss?
You might be wondering why such a big response for one person on a runway. Well, airport security is no joke.
Even a single unauthorised person in a restricted area can pose a serious safety risk—not just to themselves, but to passengers, crew, and airport staff. That’s why authorities take these incidents extremely seriously, pulling out all the stops to ensure everyone’s safety.
What Happens Next?
As of now, the mysterious man remains at large, and South Australia Police are urging anyone who may have seen anything unusual around Parafield Airport on Sunday afternoon to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are keen to get to the bottom of this bizarre incident.
Source: 9 News Australia / Youtube.
Stormwater Drains: A Hidden World Beneath Our Feet
This isn’t the first time someone has tried to evade police by ducking into a stormwater drain. In fact, Australia’s cities are crisscrossed with a network of underground drains and tunnels—some of which are big enough to walk through.
While they might seem like a good hiding spot, they’re actually dangerous and unpredictable, with risks of flooding, getting lost, or encountering hazardous materials.
Have you ever witnessed something strange or unexpected at an airport? Do you think security measures are strict enough, or is there more that could be done? And what do you make of this mysterious figure—was it a prank, a dare, or something more sinister? We’d love to hear your thoughts and stories in the comments below!
But every now and then, something truly out of the ordinary happens—something that leaves everyone scratching their heads and asking, 'Did that really just happen?'
That was exactly the case at Adelaide’s Parafield Airport on Sunday afternoon, when a mysterious figure dressed in dark clothing was spotted wandering across the runway.
What followed was a scene straight out of a detective novel, complete with tactical police, fire crews, and even the trusty dog squad, all scrambling to track down the elusive intruder.
A Runway Intruder and a Vanishing Act
It all kicked off around 3:25pm, when airport staff reported seeing a man in dark clothes inside the restricted area of the airport.
Now, for those who aren’t familiar, runways are strictly off-limits to anyone who isn’t supposed to be there—so you can imagine the alarm bells that started ringing.
Parafield Airport in Adelaide was shut down after a man dressed in dark clothing was spotted walking on the runway before fleeing into a stormwater drain. Image source: 9 News Australia / Youtube.
Within minutes, the Special Tasks and Rescue (STAR) Group, South Australia’s elite tactical police unit, was on the scene.
They were joined by fire crews and police dogs, all working together in a coordinated manhunt. The airport was promptly shut down as a precaution, with all eyes on the search for the mysterious trespasser.
But just as quickly as he appeared, the man pulled a vanishing act worthy of Houdini. Witnesses saw him flee into a nearby stormwater drain, disappearing from sight and leaving authorities scratching their heads.
A Search Like No Other
The STAR Group officers didn’t waste any time—they entered the stormwater drain around 5:30pm, determined to flush out the fugitive.
But after a thorough search, they emerged empty-handed. The man had slipped through their fingers, and his whereabouts remain unknown.
Despite the drama, airport officials confirmed that no flights were affected and no aircraft were ever in danger.
After about two hours, the all-clear was given, and flights resumed, with a plane from Whyalla touching down just after 4:45pm.
Why All the Fuss?
You might be wondering why such a big response for one person on a runway. Well, airport security is no joke.
Even a single unauthorised person in a restricted area can pose a serious safety risk—not just to themselves, but to passengers, crew, and airport staff. That’s why authorities take these incidents extremely seriously, pulling out all the stops to ensure everyone’s safety.
What Happens Next?
As of now, the mysterious man remains at large, and South Australia Police are urging anyone who may have seen anything unusual around Parafield Airport on Sunday afternoon to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are keen to get to the bottom of this bizarre incident.
Source: 9 News Australia / Youtube.
Stormwater Drains: A Hidden World Beneath Our Feet
This isn’t the first time someone has tried to evade police by ducking into a stormwater drain. In fact, Australia’s cities are crisscrossed with a network of underground drains and tunnels—some of which are big enough to walk through.
While they might seem like a good hiding spot, they’re actually dangerous and unpredictable, with risks of flooding, getting lost, or encountering hazardous materials.
Have you ever witnessed something strange or unexpected at an airport? Do you think security measures are strict enough, or is there more that could be done? And what do you make of this mysterious figure—was it a prank, a dare, or something more sinister? We’d love to hear your thoughts and stories in the comments below!
