Thousands of suitcases left behind at Schiphol after malfunction

A few thousand suitcases were left behind at Schiphol Airport after a malfunction in the baggage system over the weekend. There is currently so much luggage at the airport, that some suitcases are even stored under an overpass on the site, NH Nieuws reports.

The malfunction happened on Saturday and was fixed that same day. "We are now in the process of sending the suitcases, but because it involves a few thousand, it takes a while", a spokesperson for the airport said to the regional broadcaster.

According to the spokesperson, the problem is that while Schiphol is trying to send the left behind suitcases to their owners, it also has to process the regular luggage. "That's why it is taking a while. But we are already halfway through and we're trying to send the remaining suitcases to their owners this week."

The cause of a malfunction is still under investigation. But malfunctions happen, the spokesperson said. "That's why we have extra technicians ready during the summer period and people who can resolve minor malfunctions in the system."