Qantas baggage handlers stood down as investigation into Swissport contractors begins

Three baggage handlers who were caught carelessly throwing passenger’s luggage onto a conveyor belt have been stood down.

The trio have been let go as Qantas and ground handling service Swissport Australia launch an investigation into their conduct captured at Melbourne Airport.

The Swissport workers had been contracted by Qantas to handle the luggage when they were filmed tossing suitcases around and laughing. 

Qantas said the behaviour was ‘not acceptable’ while a Swissport spokesperson added immediate action had been taken against the men.

Three baggage handlers who were caught carelessly throwing passenger’s luggage onto a conveyor belt have been stood down

The trio have been let go as Qantas and ground handling service Swissport Australia launch an investigation into their conduct captured at Melbourne Airport

‘Swissport trains and manages all staff to handle customer possessions with care and diligence,’ they said.

‘The actions of staff in the video appear to have contravened those service level standards.

‘As a result, the staff in question have been stood down pending an urgent investigation.’

In the footage, a handler is seen hoisting a bag high above his head before slamming it down so hard that it bounces – much to the amusement of his co-worker. 

The same handler then tosses a small suitcase several metres into the air and onto the belt, as if shooting a basketball.

At least two bags were thrown off the conveyor belt, disappearing out of view, without any worker appearing to care.

The footage was uploaded to TikTok on Friday where it racked up more than 590,000 views, with many horrified at the lack of care for travellers’ luggage.

One TikTokker asked ‘is this like a competition who can destroy luggage the fastest?’, while another declared the workers ‘should be terminated on the spot’.

One TikTokker asked ‘is this like a competition who can destroy luggage the fastest?’, while another declared the workers ‘should be terminated on the spot’

‘You’ve got to be kidding me! Bet they would kick a stink if someone treated their stuff this way,’ another said.

‘It would actually take more effort to lift it and throw it with force, rather than just put in on the conveyor. If they don’t like it, find another job,’ one wrote.

‘When are they going to get 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 baggage handlers.

Swissport employs more than 68,000 workers at 315 airports in 50 countries.

An internal Swissport memo was also provided to Daily Mail Australia, in which the company’s CEO Brad Moore said ‘The behaviours in the video let all of us down’.

Swissport says that its team members work ‘together to ensure our clients’ expectations are achieved or exceeded’ on its website (stock image)

Mr Moore reiterated that workers ‘in question’ had been stood down and that the company wouldn’t tolerate ‘disrespectful behaviour’ towards customers’ belongings.

‘Disrespectful behaviour to our customer luggage and personal effects will not be tolerated and will result in serious disciplinary action.’

He added that the behaviour depicted in the video was confined to ‘a small group of individuals’.

‘Rest assured this matter will be investigated with urgency with appropriate follow up action.

‘The unacceptable behaviour of a few individuals will not go unchecked nor be allowed to tarnish the quality work of our whole team.’