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Amsterdam Schiphol airport evacuated due to 'situation on plane' Schiphol security alert a false alarm caused by kidnap warning sent in error
(32 minutes later)
Military police and helicopters scrambled to Schiphol as all flights in and out delayed Air Europa says crew member on board Madrid flight accidentally sent alert, prompting huge evacuation and lengthy delays
Large areas of Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, including its railway station, have been evacuated while Dutch military police investigate what airport authorities described as a “situation onboard a plane”. A false alarm has sparked a massive security operation at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam after a crew member on board a flight to Madrid accidentally sent a hostage-taking alert.
Local media said emergency services had been scrambled, a police special operations team was on site and two trauma helicopters were on their way to the airport. There was no immediate official confirmation of what the incident involved. “A warning that launches protocols on kidnappings at the airport” was triggered “by mistake”, the airline, Air Europa, tweeted. “Nothing has happened, all passengers are waiting to fly soon. We are sorry.”
The airport is still operating but all inbound and outbound flights are delayed and some have been postponed indefinitely. The Dutch public broadcaster, NOS, earlier said the passengers and crew of the flight had been safely evacuated while the airport went into lockdown as police investigated the “suspicious situation” on board.
Dutch military police tweeted that they were investigating a “suspicious situation” onboard a plane and said more information would follow. Two piers of the airport were evacuated as well as its railway station, emergency services were scrambled, a police special operations team was dispatched and two trauma helicopters sent to the airport, local media said.
Local media cited multiple unnamed security service sources as saying the situation was a hostage taking, but there was no official confirmation. With no immediate official confirmation of what the incident involved, the airport continued to operate, but all inbound and outbound flights were delayed and some were postponed indefinitely.
The plane was reportedly an Air Europa flight to Madrid due to depart from pier D3 at about 7pm. Dutch military police tweeted they were investigating a “suspicious situation” onboard a plane and said more information would follow. Local media cited multiple unnamed security service sources as saying the situation was a hostage taking, but there was no official confirmation.
The Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, told a meeting of his VVD party he may be called away because of the developing situation at Schiphol. “Something is going on, we are going to find out what is going on,” he said. “I am being kept informed.” The plane was Air Europa flight UX 1094 to Madrid, which was due to depart from gate D3 at about 7pm.
The Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, told a meeting of his VVD party he may be called away because of the developing situation at Schiphol. “Something is going on, we are going to find out what is going on,” he said. “I am being kept informed. I hope it ends well.”
Reporters at the scene said on social media that large numbers of ambulances had drawn up at various points around the airport, but cautioned this could be a precautionary measure. Passengers tweeted pictures of the deserted airport.Reporters at the scene said on social media that large numbers of ambulances had drawn up at various points around the airport, but cautioned this could be a precautionary measure. Passengers tweeted pictures of the deserted airport.
Utrecht railway station was also evacuated, passengers reported, although it was not clear whether this was in relation to events at Schiphol.Utrecht railway station was also evacuated, passengers reported, although it was not clear whether this was in relation to events at Schiphol.
More details soon …