London Heathrow Airport was plunged into temporary chaos this afternoon as Terminal 3 was evacuated due to reports of a suspect package, stranding thousands of passengers and causing delays to transport links, including Heathrow Express rail services.
False Alarm Confirmed After Large-Scale Emergency Response
Just after 3:30 PM, emergency protocols were enacted at Britain’s busiest airport following the discovery of a suspicious item inside Terminal 3. The Metropolitan Police confirmed its officers were "on scene and dealing" with the situation.
However, police have since announced the incident was a false alarm, and the alert has now been stood down.
"It’s a suspect package and we are on scene and dealing," the Met said earlier. In a later update, they added: "The item posed no threat and the area has been reopened."
Heathrow Statement and Impact on Travel
A Heathrow Airport spokesperson confirmed that "a small part of Terminal 3 was temporarily evacuated while authorities conducted the appropriate checks."
"The issue has now been safely resolved. We apologise to our passengers for any inconvenience caused," the airport said in a statement issued shortly after 5 PM.
Train and Flight Disruptions
While the full impact on flights remains unclear, Heathrow Express confirmed delays to some of its services due to the security operation.
Passengers took to social media to report being ushered out of the terminal, with some expressing concern about missed flights amid peak half-term travel.
One user posted: "Just got kicked out of Heathrow Terminal 3. No idea what’s going on, staff saying possible bomb threat."
Recent Disruptions at Heathrow
Today’s disruption follows a series of recent incidents at Heathrow, including a major substation fire in March that led to mass flight cancellations and widespread travel chaos.
As the half-term travel rush continues, passengers are advised to check with their airlines for updates and allow extra time when travelling to or from the airport.
More from: airport security alert · Breaking · half-term travel
