East Midlands Airport was evacuated on Tuesday morning after a concern was raised about one checked-in item of luggage, with passengers seen standing airside during the disruption. The airport said later that the terminal was being reopened after investigators concluded there was no risk.
The evacuation happened at about 09:30 BST at the airport in Castle Donington, Leicestershire. In a statement just after 11:00, an airport spokesperson said the terminal had been cleared as a precautionary measure after security screening equipment highlighted a concern with a checked-in item of luggage.
The airport said normal operations were resuming and passengers were being allowed back into the terminal. The spokesperson apologised for any inconvenience and said the safety of customers and staff was the number one priority.
The brief shutdown was a reminder of how quickly routine airport screening can disrupt travel plans, even when a concern turns out to be unfounded. In this case, the check that triggered the evacuation ended with the clearest possible result: no danger and a return to normal.
