Birmingham Airport bomb threat leads to flight suspensions and passenger evacuations
Birmingham Airport has announced that operations will gradually resume following a temporary suspension due to a reported bomb threat.
Passengers were advised to avoid the airport as police responded to an “ongoing incident” related to a suspicious vehicle. Eyewitnesses reported that people in the terminals were evacuated when the alarm was raised on Wednesday afternoon, while those on arriving flights found themselves stuck on the runway. However, the situation has since been resolved, and operations are slowly returning to normal. A spokesperson for Birmingham Airport stated, “After a police investigation, some passengers were evacuated, and departing flights were suspended for a couple of hours. The investigation has concluded, and we are gradually resuming normal operations. We advise all passengers to check with their airline for the latest flight information.”
The spokesperson added, “We apologize for any inconvenience and disruption; the safety and security of everyone at the airport were our top priorities during this incident.”
West Midlands Police confirmed that there is no “wider risk to the public” after the airport was partially evacuated to investigate the suspicious vehicle. A police spokesperson explained, “We responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle at Birmingham Airport. As a precaution, the airport was partially evacuated while the vehicle was searched. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team has assessed the vehicle, which is now deemed safe and no longer suspicious. Our primary concern was the safety of everyone involved.”
Arriving vehicles were turned away, and images from the scene showed police blocking access. Some passengers were seen lining up outside the terminal while police conducted their search.
Travelers with flights booked for Wednesday afternoon are encouraged to contact their airline for updates. Birmingham Airport’s official Twitter account posted at 1:34 PM: “West Midlands Police is currently on-site dealing with an incident. Airport operations are currently suspended. Passengers are advised NOT to come to the airport at this time. We will provide updates as the situation changes.”
Police described the closure as a precautionary measure, and although an eyewitness reported seeing a bomb disposal team, this has not been officially confirmed. A West Midlands Police representative reiterated that the evacuation was a safety measure in response to the suspicious vehicle, and local bus services and National Express routes were also rerouting away from the airport.