A gate left wide open -- seemingly inconsequential. It's a gateway, however, to a major port of entry – the airport runway.

Over the weekend, Gate 16 to the A.B. Won Pat International Airport runway was not only left open and unsecured but also unmanned.

This concerned Guam Customs and Quarantine Director Ike Peredo who was advised of the security breach. He immediately called airport management.

“I was concerned because it was just open," Peredo said. "I feel that there should be a security guard at that place if they are going to use that.”

Guam International Airport Authority Executive Manager John Quinata admitted to the military's mishap.

"I think it was an oversight on their part, they were bringing the crews in and stuff," he said. "The folks that were there didn’t realize that they had to have somebody there. So we got on them right away that that breach was there and that was not our plan."

Quinata said the Air Force Security Forces were supposed to man the gates 24/7 for Cope North 2023, a multinational military training exercise meant to enhance security in this part of the world.

But the gate where military personnel enter was unmanned last Friday and Saturday.

"Definitely the gate was not supposed to be left open but once we were made aware, they made sure the air force security forces are there now," Quinata said.

Airport police addressed the situation right away as soon as they got word mid-morning Saturday.

But for the duration, it was left open.

"We did make sure that we did a security search all around the facilities that there was no breach of security to any of the airfields or any of the facilities inside the airway areas," Quinata said.

Quinata reassures the public there was no breach of security.

As for those responsible for manning the gate, an Andersen Air Force Base spokesperson tells us "the 36th wing is committed to being a good neighbor to A.B. Won Pat International airport. 36th wing leadership was made aware of the issue and it has since been resolved."

Cope North exercise begins tomorrow.