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| Birmingham Airport passengers urged to check flights after evacuation | |
| (4 months later) | |
| Police said the evacuation was "a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of passengers and staff" | Police said the evacuation was "a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of passengers and staff" |
| Passengers using Birmingham Airport are being advised to check their latest flight information after its terminal was evacuated over a suspicious vehicle. | Passengers using Birmingham Airport are being advised to check their latest flight information after its terminal was evacuated over a suspicious vehicle. |
| Many flights were grounded on Wednesday and people had to leave the airport building while a police operation got under way at about 12:20 BST. | Many flights were grounded on Wednesday and people had 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 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team searched the vehicle which was "deemed to be safe", West Midlands Police said. |
| An airport spokesperson apologised for the inconvenience and disruption, but said "the safety and security of everyone at the airport was our number one priority". | An airport spokesperson apologised for the inconvenience and disruption, but said "the safety and security of everyone at the airport was our number one priority". |
| Ian Pugh said he saw hundreds of people exiting the airport | Ian Pugh said he saw hundreds of people exiting the airport |
| 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 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. | The BBC understands passengers who had cleared security were permitted to go through to departures as they were deemed safe. |
| The airport said it was "working closely with its airline partners to minimise any potential disruption to customers". | The airport said it was "working closely with its airline partners to minimise any potential disruption to customers". |
| Flights were held on the ground but were later able to depart with only one cancelled, a spokesperson said. | Flights were held on the ground but were later able to depart with only one cancelled, a spokesperson said. |
| "We again apologise for the inconvenience to our passengers but their safety and security is our priority." | "We again apologise for the inconvenience to our passengers but their safety and security is our priority." |
| The airport said there would be ongoing disruption while services return to normal | The airport said there would be ongoing disruption while services return to normal |
| Travellers posted their frustration on social media at being left on planes that had just arrived at the airport. | 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?". | 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". | 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. | 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". | 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. | "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." | "Birmingham Airport could have just dealt with the whole situation much better." |
| Samia Khan said she would consider using the train for future journeys | Samia Khan said she would consider using the train for future journeys |
| Ian Pugh posted a photo of crowds outside the building. | Ian Pugh posted a photo of crowds outside the building. |
| "It seemed very busy and the numbers of people just started growing," he said. | "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." | "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). | Some passengers were asked to assemble at the nearby National Exhibition Centre (NEC). |
| Many passengers were left waiting outside while emergency services dealt with the situation | Many passengers were left waiting outside while emergency services dealt with the situation |
| West Midlands Fire Service and West Midlands Ambulance Service both had crews on site while the investigation took place. | 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. | Passengers were allowed back into the airport from 15:30 BST. |
| Birmingham Airport was also evacuated in September, when travellers were temporarily asked to leave a small area in the arrivals zone. | Birmingham Airport was also evacuated in September, when travellers were temporarily asked to leave a small area in the arrivals zone. |
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