Birmingham Airport said it was “slowly returning to normal” after its terminal was evacuated over a suspicious vehicle. Many flights were grounded and people told to leave the airport building while a police operation got under way at about 12:20 BST. An Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team searched the vehicle which was “deemed to be safe”, West Midlands Police said. An airport spokesperson apologised for “any inconvenience and disruption” but said “the safety and security of everyone at the airport was our number one priority as we worked through this incident with police partners.”
The evacuation affected passengers who were checking in for the flights, with a police cordon set up around the airport and people advised not to travel to the airport. The BBC understands passengers who had cleared security were permitted to go through to departures as they were deemed safe. In their latest update, an airport spokesperson said: “Birmingham Airport is working closely with its airline partners to minimise any potential disruption to customers. The majority of flights that were held on the ground have now departed, with only one cancelled flight. Customers are still advised to check their flight status with their airline. We again apologise for the inconvenience to our passengers but their safety and security is our priority.”
Travellers posted their frustration on social media at being left on planes that had just arrived at the airport. One user on X, @harmancheeta, said they were “stuck on a plane, claustrophobic, pleading to get off,” and asked: “How long is this situation going to take?”. Another, @SpandleRandle, said his mum and dad were also on a plane at Birmingham Airport after returning from Spain and had “no idea what’s going on”. Some were not happy with the way the disruption was handled. Passenger Samia Khan said there were “no updates, nobody telling us what was going on, it's just absolutely ridiculous”. “I could have easily just caught the train to Amsterdam and I'm probably going to opt for that next time, because flying's just been made so difficult with all the delays,” she said. “Birmingham Airport could have just dealt with the whole situation much better.”
Ian Pugh posted a photo of crowds outside the building. “It seemed very busy and the numbers of people just started growing,” he said. “At first I just thought it was people going to the train station and maybe the monorail had failed but the numbers just got larger.” Some passengers were asked to assemble at the nearby National Exhibition Centre (NEC). West Midlands Fire Service and West Midlands Ambulance Service both had crews on site while the investigation took place. Passengers were allowed back into the airport from 15:30 BST.
The Airport's Response
The airport confirmed that operations were “returning to normal” after the evacuation. The statement issued by Birmingham Airport read, “Following a police investigation, operations are now returning to normal. Whilst we apologise for any inconvenience and disruption, the safety and security of everyone at the airport was our No 1 priority as we worked through this incident with police partners.”
Police Investigation
West Midlands Police said the airport was “partially evacuated” so a vehicle could be searched and assessed. The statement issued by West Midlands Police said, “Following a search by the explosive ordnance disposal team the vehicle was deemed to be safe. The vehicle is no longer being treated as suspicious. The safety of all was our primary concern and there is no wider risk to the public.” “The airport has resumed normal business with minimal disruption. We would like to thank the public for their patience and support while we dealt with this incident.”
Impact on Passengers
The incident caused significant disruption to passengers, with many reporting long delays and cancellations. Some passengers were stuck on planes on the tarmac, while others were forced to wait outside the airport for hours. The airport departures board showed that several flights were delayed by more than two hours. Many passengers expressed their frustration with the lack of information and communication from the airport.
Disruption and Chaos
The airport advised all passengers to stay away from the airport during the incident. Crowds of people, many with suitcases, found themselves behind police tape as they were moved away from the scene. Passengers reported being escorted outside the airport building to the nearby National Exhibition Centre (NEC). West Midlands fire service said it had crews on standby at the airport, while teams from West Midlands ambulance service were also in attendance “as a precautionary measure as police deal with reports of a suspicious vehicle”.
The airport later said passengers could return to the airport, advising them to check the latest flight information before travelling. After the latest announcement, passengers said they were being slowly allowed back into the airport building, but further disruption was expected for a number of hours.
A Pattern of Disruption?
The incident was the second evacuation at Birmingham Airport in recent months. In September, travellers were temporarily asked to leave a small area in the arrivals zone. In April, a security incident on an aircraft led to delays and disruption. The incidents highlight the ongoing challenges facing airports and airlines in maintaining security and ensuring smooth operations.
Moving Forward
The incident at Birmingham Airport serves as a stark reminder of the importance of security measures at airports. While the incident was ultimately resolved without any serious harm, it caused significant disruption and inconvenience to passengers. The airport has pledged to continue working with police partners to ensure the safety and security of all passengers and staff. However, passengers can expect continued delays and disruptions in the coming days as the airport works to recover from the incident and address the backlog of flights.
Conclusion: A Day of Disruption
The day began with a tense evacuation and ended with a sigh of relief as the airport resumed normal operations. The incident serves as a reminder of the complex security challenges facing airports and airlines. The focus now shifts to restoring normalcy and minimising any further disruption to travellers.
