London City Airport Terminal Evacuated in Security Alert
The incident has since been resolved and no specific reason has been provided for the craziness.
London City Airport's terminal was evacuated Sunday evening, February 2, forcing hundreds of passengers into the parking lot as inbound flights circled over the Thames Estuary.
A police helicopter was spotted patrolling the runway area during the incident, according to social media reports. Multiple flights were placed in holding patterns awaiting clearance to land.
London City Airport confirmed the landside area evacuation was precautionary, though no specific cause was disclosed. "The safety of our passengers and staff is our number one priority," a spokesperson stated, adding that the incident has been resolved.
After passengers were allowed to return, security queues stretched to the airport entrance. The DLR continued operating despite announcements suggesting service interruption, with only two departures showing 15-minute delays.
During the evacuation, travelers reported receiving minimal information, being told only of "technical difficulties." Similar incidents at London City Airport have previously been triggered by chemical incidents, security threats, and false fire alarms, though the exact nature of this evacuation remains unconfirmed.
The airport's location in east London's financial district makes it a crucial transport hub for business travelers, handling over 5 million passengers annually. Sunday evening disruptions particularly impact weekend business travelers returning for the work week.
Operations have since returned to normal, though residual delays were reported as the airport worked to clear the passenger backlog.
The Mirror contributed to this article.