Birmingham Airport Evacuation: What Happened?
The Birmingham Airport underwent an evacuation due to a suspicious vehicle being discovered on the premises. Learn more about what happened and whether the airport has reopened by reading below.
The Birmingham Airport entered partial evacuation mode early Wednesday, October 23, 2024, after encountering suspicious activity, leading some passengers to revise their flights due to changes in terminal zones. Flights were grounded, and a disruption occurred at the airport. A statement was released on social media: “Whilst we apologize 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.”
To learn more about what happened at Birmingham Airport in the United Kingdom, keep reading below.
CUSTOMER INFORMATION – UPDATED
Following a Police investigation, operations are now returning to normal. If travelling today, customers are advised to check their latest flight information and arrive at the airport in line with their check-in opening times.
Whilst we… pic.twitter.com/C7AEyb4E19
— Birmingham Airport (@bhx_official) October 23, 2024
What Happened at Birmingham Airport?
According to The Guardian, Birmingham Airport reported the discovery of a suspicious vehicle, which resulted in a search conducted by the explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team. The airport shared on social media that passengers were temporarily prevented from entering the facility.
Why Was Birmingham Airport Evacuated?
Although the reason behind the evacuation is not fully clear at this point, the airport’s statement emphasized that the safety of passengers and staff was their top priority. Some passengers were initially held back from entering the facility with their luggage. However, after the vehicle was “deemed to be safe,” they were eventually allowed to proceed inside.
Once the situation was resolved, the Birmingham airport advised passengers via social media to check updated flight information regularly to ensure they were fully aware of any potential changes or delays to their flights.
Is Birmingham Airport Open After the Evacuation?
Yes, the airport noted that its operations returned to normal after the police investigation was completed. According to The Guardian, the airport’s statement read: “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.”
In addition, they stated, “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.”