The airport in England’s Birmingham returned to normal, on Wednesday (Oct 23) after flights were grounded and the site evacuated after police reported a suspicious vehicle.
The airport issued a statement, saying, “Following a police investigation, operations are now returning to normal. Whilst we apologise for any inconvenience and disruption, the safety and security of everyone at the airport was our No 1 priority as we worked through this incident with police partners.”
West Midlands police said the airport was “partially evacuated” so a vehicle could be searched and assessed.
“Following a search by the explosive ordnance disposal team the vehicle was deemed to be safe. The vehicle is no longer being treated as suspicious. The safety of all was our primary concern and there is no wider risk to the public,” the police said.
“The airport has resumed normal business with minimal disruption. We would like to thank the public for their patience and support while we dealt with this incident,” they added.
Earlier in the day, the airport stated that their operations were affected and advised passengers to stay away.
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The passengers said they were taken outside the airport building to the nearby National Exhibition Centre (NEC).
West Midlands Fire Service said their crews were on standby at the airport. Meanwhile, West Midlands ambulance service teams were also in attendance “as a precautionary measure as police deal with reports of a suspicious vehicle”.
Later, passengers were told they could return to the airport, advising them to check the latest flight information before travelling.
As the situation got normal, passengers said they were slowly allowed back into the airport building, however, further disruption was expected for several hours.
(With inputs from agencies)