The orderly manner in which hundreds of people were evacuated from Malta International Airport on May 31, following a bomb scare alert, deserves praise. I was even asked very kindly by an evacuation marshal not to proceed towards the main entrance.

However, have the authorities concerned taken any action to prevent similar future situations? After all, a machine can make mistakes.

The media reported that the owner of a particular luggage had ventured outside the departure hall, with his wife and son, to have lunch as their flight was delayed by a few hours.

The fact that he did not respond to the emergency call on the public address system proves that such calls have to reach the public well beyond the terminal building itself, namely all other outlying buildings and open spaces within the terminal’s precinct (Skyparks, McDonald’s, police and petrol stations and all car parks).