An Australian airline is launching an internal investigation after a video of baggage handlers roughly handling luggage went viral online.
In a video shared to TikTok Friday, three handlers can be seen slamming and throwing passengers’ bags onto a conveyor belt while laughing. Since it was posted, the clip has garnered four million views and over 21,000 comments.
The post tags Qantas Airways Limited and Melbourne Airport in the caption, and a spokesperson for the airline confirmed to the Guardian the men were employees of Qantas subcontractor Swissport Australia.
“The behavior in this video is clearly not acceptable, and our contracted ground handler is conducting an urgent investigation,” a Qantas spokesperson told the Guardian.
In one instance, a handler can be seen raising a bag above his head before slamming it on the belt while another looks on. The tens of thousands of commenters weren’t pleased with the rough display.
“I don’t get why they have to be extremely violent with the bag,” one user wrote.
“That’s the reason I’ve travelled all around the world and got 2 suitcases broken only in Australia,” another said
Swissport CEO Brad Moore also condemned the actions of the men, who he said have now been “stood down pending urgent investigation” and warned with “serious disciplinary action” in a staff note reviewed by news.com.au.
“The behaviors in the video let all of us down — most importantly our frontline staff who have worked so hard through (Covid) to assure quality standards in at times challenging circumstances,” Moore wrote in the note, according to news.com.au.
He added: “Disrespectful behavior to our customer luggage and personal effects will not be tolerated and will result in serious disciplinary action.”
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