A bomb squad descended on Birmingham Airport and it temporarily suspended operations after an ‘undeclared item’ found on an Aer Lingus flight forced the plane to make an emergency landing.
The pilot of the Birmingham to Belfast flight declared an emergency around ten minutes after take-off as it passed over the Staffordshire and Shropshire border, flight trackers show.
A bomb squad including four armoured vehicles and specialist officers with sniffer dogs were sent to the runway, where a live stream showed the ATR72-600 plane coming into land.
After the flight landed safely and was parked on the tarmac, passengers were seen being bussed away from the turboprop, which can accommodate between 72 and 76 travellers.
The airline later said in a statement that the item discovered on the flight ‘was not a security risk.’ The dramatic incident caused numerous other flights at the airport to be cancelled and delayed and caused knock-on travel disruption.
Picture shows the plane on the tarmac with emergency response vehicles
Buses appeared to evacuate the passengers from the Aer Lingus flight
A bomb squad was sent to the runway as well as specialist officers and sniffer dogs
The arrivals area in the airport appeared empty this evening as the incident saw multiple flights delayed and cancelled
As it unfolded, a commentator on the YouTube plane spotter’s channel Airport Action, which streamed pictures from the scene, said: ‘It’s just unreal standing here seeing what’s going on.’
Emergency vehicles sat on the runway yards from the aircraft, while coaches were brought in to pick up people seen walking from the aircraft and across the runway.
The plane was said to be squawking code 7700 as it returned to Birmingham – which signals an emergency of any kind.
The ATR72-600 forms the backbone of the Irish airline’s fleet, which the average age of the aircraft being six years. Flight EAG47S landed at 4.20pm, according to the airport’s website.
It has now reopened, according to police, who said ‘the incident is now being dealt as a false call with very good intent.’
‘All passengers and crew have been evacuated safely and specialist officers including the dog unit have now searched the plane,’ West Midlands Police added.
Aer Lingus said its teams were working to accommodate impacted passengers.
Travellers wait for news as departures boards show scores of delayed flights as the airport temporarily suspended operations
Departures board shows delayed and cancelled flights this evening amid the incident
The pilot of the Birmingham to Belfast flight declared an emergency around ten minutes after take-off as it passed over the Staffordshire and Shropshire border
A Birmingham Airport spokesperson earlier confirmed that it had ‘temporarily suspended operations due to a security incident on an aircraft.’
It added that the plane in question ‘landed safely and all passengers and crew have disembarked.’
Multiple flights scheduled to depart this evening have either been cancelled or delayed, the airport’s website shows.
A Birmingham Airport spokesperson said it had ‘temporarily suspended operations due to a security incident on an aircraft’ (file image)
But passengers expecting to fly out were urged to go ahead with their journeys to the airport as planned, with officials saying that they hoped the disruption would be minimal.
‘All customers due to travel should make their way to the airport and check in as normal,’ the spokesman said.
There was also train disruption as a result of the incident, with all lines temporarily blocked between Birmingham New Street and Coventry. National Rail said the lines have now reopened.