Bomb disposal experts have carried out a series of controlled explosions at Manchester airport after passengers were evacuated when a suspicious package was found.

Police said they were called to Terminal 3 to reports of a suspect bag and that a precautionary evacuation was taking place. Travellers said airport staff appeared to be taking passengers off planes at the terminal.

Manchester airport confirmed the evacuation was taking place after police and bomb disposal units were called at 8.50am on Wednesday.



A spokesperson said: “Police were called at 8.50am on Wednesday 5 July 2017 to reports of a suspicious package at Manchester airport. Officers are responding and a precautionary evacuation of Terminal 3 has taken place.

“Bomb disposal officers attended and a series of controlled explosions were carried out of the package. Inquiries are ongoing.”

The spokesperson added that people using Terminals 1 and 2 “should travel as normal”.



Police confirmed the package was not believed to be a viable device, adding “there is not believed to be any threat at this time”. The incident was not being treated as terror-related.

Passengers who were due to fly from Terminal 3 were advised to go to Terminal 1 for more information. Passengers were said to be calm following the evacuation.



Terminal 3 is the smallest terminal at Manchester airport and is used for domestic flights as well as some flights to the US and Europe.



Airlines operating out of the terminal include British Airways, American Airlines, KLM, Flybe and Air France.



Ryanair has transferred some of its flights from the terminal to Terminal 2.



Kate Feld, a writer from Ramsbottom, was checking in for her flight to Philadelphia when the evacuation took place.



She told the Manchester Evening News: “There was an announcement: everyone had to leave. It was being evacuated. The man said it was just a drill. Clearly this was not the case in retrospect. On the airfield they have taken all of the people off the planes and the buses.



“One flight just did take off. One friend is on a bus. She was waiting to fly out and is now on a bus. Nobody is telling us what is going on. There has been no announcement. A man has come out to tell us to get further back.”