Passengers travelling out of Manchester Airport reported 'chaotic' scenes after Terminal 3 was evacuated at about 5.30am. A tannoy message into the terminal ordered an 'immediate evacuation'.
But the drama came to a rapid end when it emerged a passenger had mistakenly pressed an alarm, prompting what officials called a 'routine' evacuation of the building.
Travellers were told they could re-enter once the mistake was realised and they could join the queues at security before heading to their flights.
Video posted on social media showed people filing out of T3 as an alarm sounded. A message over the tannoy called for an 'immediate evacuation'.
"Attention please, an incident has arisen that necessitates the immediate evacuation of this area," said the message. It continued: "Follow any further instructions that maybe given by staff."
One Twitter user posted: "Whole of terminal 3 being evacuated at Manchester airport. No news yet but everyone is leaving." Another described the scene as 'chaotic', criticised a lack of information but added the terminal had now been re-opened.
They wrote: "Manchester Airport evacuation of Terminal 3. Chaotic. Everyone told to leave and go outside but barely anyone hearing instructions. Now open again. Long queues."
There were also reports that large queues were gathering outside due to the evacuation, slowing down the movement of travellers through the security controls.
"Manchester Airport Terminal 3 was evacuated about an hour ago and queues for security are now extending into the multi story car park," wrote one passenger.
Another tweeted that they have had a 'two hour' wait to get through security. Others reported flights were held back while the drama continued so travellers could make their flights.
Manchester and other airports have been beset by problems this summer as demand for air travel exploded after Covid restrictions were eased.
A spokesman for Manchester Airport said: "There was a brief evacuation in a small part of the terminal building due to one of the red alarm panels being set off. Process dictates the area is evacuated but everyone is now already back in."
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police confirmed it had been a 'false alarm' after a member of the public activated the alarm 'by mistake'. The spokesman added: "There was a routine evacuation as per their protocols."
In April, the boss of Manchester Airport quit amid a growing backlash over long passenger queues, staff shortages and calls from city leaders for management to 'get a grip' of the growing crisis. The problem has persisted, however.
Manchester Airports Group (MAG), which owns Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports confirmed at the time that Karen Smart has decided to leave the business after eight years. Karen, who took on the Managing Director role at the start of the pandemic, has navigated the hub through the impacts of Covid-19, and has also led the start of its controversial recovery.
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