Heathrow Terminal 4 Reopens After False Hazardous Materials Alarm
Terminal 4 was evacuated briefly; no dangerous substances were found; flights resumed.
Heathrow Airport's Terminal 4, which was evacuated earlier on Monday due to reports of a possible hazardous materials incident, has fully reopened after emergency services determined it was a false alarm. The episode, lasting about three and a half hours, caused temporary disruptions but had minimal impact on overall operations.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) was alerted at 17:00 BST to investigate the potential threat, leading to the evacuation of the terminal's check-in area as a precaution. Passengers were advised not to travel to the terminal, and trains were temporarily unable to stop at Heathrow Terminal 4 station. Crowds of travelers waited outside with their luggage while specialist crews conducted a thorough search.
The Metropolitan Police later confirmed that no hazardous substances were found, describing the event as possibly related to "mass hysteria" that escalated from initial reports. Around 20 individuals reported feeling unwell and were assessed by paramedics on site; none suffered life-threatening injuries, though one person was taken to hospital for further evaluation.
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By 20:00 BST, Heathrow Airport announced that Terminal 4 had resumed normal operations, with flights running as scheduled. A spokesperson for the airport apologized for the inconvenience, stating, "The safety and security of our passengers and colleagues is our number one priority." The LFB subsequently stood down its response, marking the end of the incident.
This false alarm underscores the robust emergency protocols at one of the world's busiest airports, which handles millions of passengers annually, and serves as a reminder of the importance of quick, coordinated responses to potential threats.
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