Australia: Handler punished for donning camel costume

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 4/8/05 | AP - Sydney

[NormsRevenge]

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - Qantas Airways Ltd. on Friday suspended a baggage handler who was caught on video opening a passenger's bag which contained a camel costume, donning the head and wandering around the airport tarmac.

The costume's owner, David Cox, said he was waiting inside the terminal at Sydney Airport earlier this week when he glanced outside and saw the baggage handler wearing his camel head.

"I obviously was flabbergasted, my jaw dropped to the ground," Cox told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio on Friday.

He said he was shocked to realize that his luggage had been tampered with, and reported the incident to the airline.

Qantas Chief Executive Geoff Dixon said a security camera had recorded the baggage handler, whose name was not immediately available, opening the bag and trying on the camel head.

He said the baggage handler had been suspended and could be fired pending further investigation.

"We are acutely aware of heightened community concerns around security of baggage," Dixon said in a statement. "What has happened is completely unacceptable and is unacceptable to the vast majority of decent, hardworking Qantas employees."

[general_re]

...he was waiting inside the terminal at Sydney Airport earlier this week when he glanced outside and saw the baggage handler wearing his camel head.

[SeamusVA]

I wonder who was wearing the kangaroo costume...

[VRWCisme]

Forget American Express, don't leave home without your trusty camel costume!

[BenLurkin]

He should have flown to Fiji . . . .

[camle]

such abuse of a highly respected and trustworthy animule!

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

You can't make this shit up.

Akmed, somebody stole my camel!!

[camle]

i never leave home without my trusty camle costume.

[nuconvert]

LoL

[prairiebreeze]

I hate it when my camel costume gets tampered with in airports too.

[dead]

This incident is already being brought up in the case of the (allegedly hot, but not really) Australian chickie who is on trial for bringing pot into Bali.

She has been claiming all along that the pot was put there by somebody else at the airport.

Here's a picture of the camel costume in question:

He’s the one on the left, for those zoologically deficient.

[prairiebreeze]

[Gator101]

Too funny. What was this idiot thinking when he put on the costume? Did he think the owner up above in the terminal is going to think "Oh, that's probably not MY camel costume. That baggage handler must have his own."

[BigEdLB]

The actual head in question in shown in Melbourne, AUSTRALIA
Worn by owner David Cox

[Lee Heggy]

Ok, after that story I have no doubt that it IS Friday.

[bicyclerepair]

I hope Mr. Camelhead doesn't hang around rag-heads.....let alone bend over amongst them.

[Jonah Hex]

Remonds me of a favorite Terry Prachett quote from Soul Music:

There was a roar like the scream of a camel who has just seen two bricks.

[Oztrich Boy]

He said he was shocked to realize that his luggage had been tampered with, and reported the incident to the airline

"It's a sign that we're all a little nervous in the post-9/11 world." - Bill Toohey, Balitmore County Police

[PLK]

I don't even want to THINK about the bad things that could happen to your stuff at airports. The opportunity for stealing and tampering is incredible.

It amazes me, too, that there isn't more theft at baggage claim areas.

[shellshocked]

The man won't be arrested for theft. It seems no TSA employee is ever prosecuted.