Baggage handlers filmed laughing as they slammed passengers’ luggage and threw it onto a conveyor belt are being suspended
- Three baggage handlers resigned for “unacceptable” behavior on video
- Trio was filmed slamming luggage onto a conveyor belt at Melbourne Airport
- Swissport Australia said immediate action had been taken against the workers
Three baggage handlers who were caught carelessly tossing passengers’ luggage onto a conveyor belt were deported.
The trio were released as Qantas and groundhandling service Swissport Australia launched an investigation into their behavior when arrested at Melbourne Airport.
Swissport workers had been hired by Qantas to handle the luggage when they were filmed tossing suitcases and laughing.
Qantas said the behavior was “unacceptable,” while a Swissport spokesman added that immediate action had been taken against the men.
Three baggage handlers who were caught carelessly tossing passengers’ luggage onto a conveyor belt were deported
The trio were released as Qantas and groundhandling service Swissport Australia launched an investigation into their behavior when arrested at Melbourne Airport
“Swissport trains and manages all employees to handle customers’ possessions with care and conscientiously,” they said.
“The actions of the staff in the video appear to have violated these service level standards.
“As a result, the employees concerned have been fired pending an urgent investigation.”
In the footage, a handler can be seen lifting a bag high over his head before slamming it onto the ground so hard it bounces – much to his colleague’s amusement.
The same handler then tosses a small suitcase several feet in the air and onto the tape as if shooting a basketball.
At least two sacks were thrown off the conveyor belt and disappeared from view without a worker appearing to pay attention.
The footage was uploaded to TikTok on Friday, where it garnered more than 590,000 views, with many appalled at the lack of care for travelers’ luggage.
One TikTokker asked, “Is this like a competition to destroy luggage the fastest?”, while another declared the workers “should be fired on the spot.”
One TikTokker asked, “Is this like a competition to destroy luggage the fastest?”, while another declared the workers “should be fired on the spot.”
‘You must be kidding me! I bet they would stink if someone treated their stuff like that,” said another.
“It would actually take more strength to lift it and force it to throw than to just put it on the conveyor belt. If you don’t like it, find another job,” one wrote.
“When will you be fired?” commented another.
“So wrong on so many levels, these men need to be held accountable.”
Another said cameras should be permanently installed to film the actions of the baggage handlers.
Swissport employs more than 68,000 people at 315 airports in 50 countries.
An internal Swissport memo was also provided to Chron Australia, in which the company’s CEO, Brad Moore, said: “The behavior in the video has let us all down”.
Swissport says its team members on its website “work together to ensure our customers’ expectations are met or exceeded” (stock image)
Mr Moore reiterated that the workers “in question” had been fired and that the company would not tolerate “disrespectful conduct” towards customers’ property.
“Disrespectful behavior towards our customers’ luggage and personal belongings will not be tolerated and will result in serious disciplinary action.”
He added that the behavior depicted in the video was limited to “a small group of individuals.”
“Rest assured that this matter is being urgently investigated with appropriate follow-up action.
“The unacceptable behavior of a few individuals will not go unchecked and must not affect the quality work of our entire team.”