Birmingham Airport has been partially closed after a suspicious vehicle was identified, leading to an evacuation and suspension of all flights for several hours on Wednesday.
West Midlands Police in central England initiated a partial closure of a major international airport serving the UK’s second-largest city, which faced a significant security alert.
Airport authorities urged passengers not to travel to the airport, while those already present had to exit the terminals on foot, carrying their luggage. “Whilst we apologize for any inconvenience and disruption, the safety and security of everyone at the airport was our priority,” stated airport officials.
The police described the evacuation as a “precautionary measure”, during which the suspicious vehicle was thoroughly searched and assessed. “Following a search by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EDO) team, the vehicle was deemed safe. The vehicle is no longer being treated as suspicious,” they later confirmed.
Birmingham Airport, recognized as the seventh busiest in the UK by passenger numbers, is a hub for airlines such as easyJet, Ryanair, TUI Airways, and Jet2.com. It has busy routes to and from Dublin, Dubai, Amsterdam, Palma de Mallorca, and Tenerife-South.
“Operations will slowly return to normal,” an airport spokesperson remarked. “All passengers are advised to check the latest flight information from their airline.”
