Edinburgh Airport (EDI) was evacuated on Friday, June 19, after a report was filed about a “potentially suspicious package” at the airport. Bomb disposal crews were called to the scene, and flights were diverted to surrounding airports. The airport reopened the following morning.
The ‘Suspicious Package’
Reports of the “potentially suspicious package” in the airport’s terminal marked a major security threat for Edinburgh Airport. Large areas of the terminal building were immediately evacuated. Emergency crews, including the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and military bomb disposal experts, rushed to the scene.
Police Scotland stated:
“Edinburgh airport has been evacuated as a precaution following a report of a potentially suspicious package, reported around 6.50pm on Friday, 19 June, 2026.”
The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) attended the scene, and a cordon was put in place around the airport with road closures. On Friday, the EOD stated:
“Enquiries are ongoing and members of the public are advised to check ahead and contact their airline for updates.”
Inbound flights were forced into holding patterns or diverted to alternative locations like Glasgow and Newcastle. Regional bus links, including Citylink and Lothian buses, were also diverted.
The airport then issued out a statement around 3 a.m. Saturday morning, following the incident:
The Reopening
EDI reopened Saturday, June 20, the morning after the evacuation. Specialist teams and the EOD bomb squad investigated the terminal and have given the all-clear. However, severe knock-on flight delays and schedule disruptions are expected to continue throughout the day.
The airport has stated that its staff are managing heavy passenger backlogs from Friday night’s missed flights and to expect longer lines than usual at check-in counters and security gates.
Under UK law (UK 261), airlines are exempt from paying compensation if a disruption is caused by “extraordinary circumstances”. A bomb squad deployment and airport evacuation over a suspicious package are strictly categorised as an external security risk entirely outside of an airline’s control. However, passengers still have legally protected “Right to Care” and rebooking benefits that the airlines must provide.
Although EDI deemed the airport safe to re-enter, it did not provide an update about the examination of the suspicious package.
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