Glasgow Airport: Bomb disposal robot deployed after evacuation of people
Glasgow Airport was closed for several hours on Monday morning after a suspicious object triggered a bomb alert.
Passengers were evacuated and their flights grounded at the last minute after the item was found in the security search hall just before 6am.
Police then cordoned off security and check-in areas before a Royal Navy explosives disposal squad was dispatched to the scene.
A bomb disposal robot was seen entering the airport while passengers were being escorted to a parking lot.
Employees distributed emergency blankets to protect against the cold, as well as water bottles.
After more than four hours, the item was confirmed to be “innocent” and passengers were herded back into the departure terminal.
However, at least 27 flights to and from the airport have been canceled while some arrivals have been rerouted, according to the airport’s live departures board.
This included departures scheduled to take off after the incident had ended, such as a 2.45pm Ryanair flight to Dublin.
Several of the canceled arrivals were scheduled to land at similar times to other flights that were allowed to land.
SNP MP Patricia Gibson said she was involved in the incident on her “morning commute” to Westminster and tweeted a picture of herself wrapped in a rescue blanket.
She told Westsound News: “Airport staff have been looking after people as best they can, but it’s a very cold day and people have been out here for hours.”
A Glasgow Airport spokesman said: “Police of Scotland have confirmed that this morning’s incident has been closed and our staff are now on hand to welcome passengers back to the terminal and provide assistance if required.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank our passengers for their continued patience.”
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “At around 5.55am on Monday 5 December 2022, police were called to a report of a suspicious object in Glasgow Airport Security Search Hall.
“As a precaution and in accordance with procedures, the check-in and security hall areas have been closed to the public.
“Following investigation of the item by the Royal Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team (EOD), it was confirmed that it posed no risk to the public and was innocent.
“All areas of the airport are currently being reopened.”
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, Visit our news page.
Get the top news, feel-good stories, analysis and more
https://metro.co.uk/2022/12/05/glasgow-airport-bomb-disposal-robot-deployed-after-people-evacuated-17879924/ Glasgow Airport: Bomb disposal robot deployed after evacuation of people