Radioactive Package Lost at Madrid Airport

On Monday 15 December, the Nuclear Safety Council of Spain (CSN) announced the loss of high-level package at the cargo terminal at the Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport.

The shipment contained four sources of selenium (Se-75) encapsulated safely and intended for commercial use. The Se-75 sources are used in industrial radiography, as well as offshore oil rigs and at power plant during emergency shutdowns. Both the case and the equipment had appropriate markings: a shamrock and the warning symbol “radioactive”.

According to CSN, the recipient of the package informed that it had to be delivered last Friday from Prague, but it never arrived. Upon learning of the incident, a team of inspectors arrived at the airport to investigate the details and check whether the package was delivered to the airport terminal.

The radioactive material was classified as Category 2 by the radiation hazard scale where Category 5 is the most hazardous. Category 2 is indicated as very hazardous for people because of the radiation level. However, according to the experts, sources in special transport package do not pose any hazard.

CSN recommended that anyone who found the package not touch it and immediately report it to the authorities, police and emergency services.

After 20:30, the inspection group in the terminal reported that the package with four sources had been successfully found in perfect condition.

Reference to CSN