Bristol Airport’s control tower was evacuated with the planes diverted

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.

One passenger, who was diverted to Cardiff, said on social media: “@BBBCristol @BristolLive has been interrupted Bristol Airport due to fire alarm/evacuation. Our return flight from Santorini was diverted to Cardiff…on the ground for an hour. I’m flying back to Bristol shortly now, expect quite a few delays…

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Another passenger told BristolLive they “sat on the tarmac for an hour” waiting for the plane to depart. As of 4.15pm, the arrivals and departures board shows that all previously diverted flights have now landed at Bristol.

A Bristol 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.”