Birmingham Airport suspends operations due to 'security incident' on aircraft
Customers due to travel today are being encouraged to arrive at the airport and check in as normal.
Tuesday 16 April 2024 20:00, UK
Birmingham Airport temporarily suspended operations today due to a "security incident on an aircraft".
A Birmingham Airport spokesperson said earlier: "The aircraft landed safely and all passengers and crew have disembarked.
"All customers due to travel should make their way to the airport and check in as normal."
The Aer Lingus flight which was headed for Belfast took off at around 2.52pm then began turning around in the air at 3.06pm, according to flight tracking website flightradar24.
It landed back at Birmingham Airport at 3.24pm.
Footage from the scene showed multiple emergency vehicles on the runway as the plane landed.
A short while later, what looked like the passengers and crew were seen leaving the aircraft in a single-file line as two white coaches arrived to take them away from the area.
A spokesperson for Aer Lingus told Sky News: "We can confirm that an undeclared item discovered on Aer Lingus Regional flight EI3647, operated by Emerald Airlines, from Birmingham to Belfast today was not a security risk.
"Our teams are currently working to accommodate impacted passengers."
West Midlands Police said specialist officers including a dog unit had searched the plane and the incident is being put down as a "false call with very good intent".
The force said the item was not suspicious.
The airport re-opened at around 6pm.
However, numerous flights scheduled to depart from Birmingham this evening have either been delayed or cancelled, according to the airport's website.
It is unclear whether these delays are due to the incident or not.
Disruption on the railway was also expected until 7pm after all lines between Birmingham New Street and Coventry were blocked due to the incident at the airport.
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National Rail said lines have now re-opened but trains may still be cancelled, delayed by up to 50 minutes or diverted.
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Rail replacement buses are also operating between Coventry and Northampton.
Customers who wish to travel to Birmingham Airport are being advised to do so via Leamington Spa.