Live: Flights to Bristol diverted to other airports amid fire alarm reports

Flights to and from Bristol were disrupted this afternoon after the airport’s control tower was evacuated. Eyewitnesses and passengers at the airport, some whose planes were diverted to Cardiff, said they were told by staff that a fire alarm had been sounded and flights were temporarily suspended.

Six flights were diverted to other airports – most to Cardiff but at least one to Birmingham, according to the airport’s arrivals and departures board. It was also reported that some departing flights were also grounded for about an hour after the evacuation. A spokesman for Bristol Airport said the incident was ultimately a false alarm and flights began to return to normal.

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An airport spokesman said:

“Our airport control tower was evacuated earlier this afternoon. Upon investigation, this was determined to be a false alarm, but we have temporarily suspended airport operations as a precaution. Bristol Airport is now open and flights are back to normal. We are working with our partner airlines to return passengers from diverted flights. We apologize for the disruption caused to passengers.”

According to the arrivals and departures board at Bristol Airport, several planes due to arrive in Bristol have been diverted to Cardiff Airport, with one diverted to Birmingham.