On the evening of September 1st, travelers arriving at Dunhuang Mogao International Airport found themselves unable to leave the terminal as the exit door was locked shut, resulting in a temporary standstill. On the morning of September 3rd, airport staff confirmed the incident to reporters, explaining that a partition door connecting the second floor to the ground-level arrival hall had been unintentionally closed, inadvertently trapping passengers.

Airport officials clarified that the facility was not closed for the night at that time, and staff promptly reopened the door within minutes of the incident. "It was indeed a lapse in our staff's duty that caused this issue, and we have already initiated relevant investigations and internal rectification procedures," a spokesperson stated.

Adding to the scrutiny, reporters discovered previous reports from passengers who, while catching early morning flights at the same airport, arrived two hours ahead of schedule only to find the terminal's main entrance locked with no way inside. In response, airport personnel explained, "Being a smaller airport, we do shut the terminal doors when there are no scheduled flights." They noted that the building typically opens at around 6 a.m., and closes only after the last flight lands and the premises have been cleared.

The repeated access issues have sparked fresh concerns among travelers regarding passenger convenience and the adequacy of communication protocols at the facility, prompting calls for more traveler-friendly policies during off-peak hours.