Terror alert at Manchester Airport
Passengers were evacuated from Manchester Airport’s Terminal Three for more than three hours yesterday when baggage handlers spotted a suspect package.
Several domestic and transatlantic flights were disrupted and a small number were cancelled while bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion of the package.
Police have since revealed it was not ‘a viable device’.
A Manchester Airport spokesman said: "Manchester Airport can confirm that our routine hold baggage screening process in Terminal 3 identified a bag which appeared to contain a suspicious item.
"Greater Manchester Police was immediately informed and all passengers were safely evacuated from the terminal while further investigations took place.
"Officers have now determined the bag poses no threat.
"We apologise to all passengers affected by this incident. The safety and security of our customers and employees will always be our number one priority.
"We encourage all passengers due to travel from Terminal 3 to contact their airline for updates."
Airlines affected by yesterday’s disruption include British Airways, American Airlines, Ryanair, Flybe, Air France, KLM and Vueling.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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