Birmingham Airport evacuated its North Terminal on Tuesday after reports of a possible fire in the baggage claim area. Fire crews were called to the scene, and crowds of passengers were seen standing outside while an investigation took place to determine if there was any threat to staff or travellers at the airport.
Panic at Birmingham Airport
The incident occurred in the early afternoon of Tuesday, April 7, when reports of smoke emanating from the baggage claim area at Birmingham Airport’s North Terminal prompted an evacuation.
Images taken by witnesses show dozens of passengers waiting outside the terminal while fire crews attend the scene. As a precaution, passengers sitting on planes at the runway were also forbidden from disembarking until the situation could be handled. However, the rest of the airport continued to operate normally for the duration of the incident.
Shortly before 4 p.m., the airport confirmed that the issue had been resolved, and passengers were later allowed to return to the terminal.
The airport responds
Birmingham Airport has since spoken out about the incident, reassuring the public that the airport’s safety is no longer in question. A spokesperson for the airport said:
“Following the evacuation of baggage reclaim and immigration areas in the North Terminal, West Midlands Fire Service has confirmed it is safe for passengers to return, as the incident is now resolved.”
“We apologise for the inconvenience this has caused some of our passengers. Safety is our number one priority and we thank people for their patience and our partners for their support.”
The West Midlands Fire Service has confirmed that no fire was located in the airport upon further investigation. They also added that they are currently working with on-site staff at Birmingham Airport to identify the source of the smoke.
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