London City Airport evacuated over 'chemical incident' leaving dozens of passengers unwell
Emergency services sent to airport in capital as two people hospitalised
London City Airport has been evacuated leaving passengers stranded on the runway following a suspected "chemical incident".
The airport said that terminal was evacuated just after 4pm after a fire alarm was activated and are "looking into the cause". Many passengers have reported feeling unwell.
The London Ambulance Service said ambulance crews and their Hazardous Area Response Team are attending the incident at London City Airport. They treated 26 people for breathing difficulties, with two people to hospital. Metropolitan Police said they were called following reports of a "number of passengers feeling unwell".
A London Fire Service spokesperson said: "Three fire engines and a range of specialist appliances have been called to reports of a chemical incident at London City Airport.
"Around 500 members of the public and staff have been evacuated and there are reports of a number of passengers feeling unwell. The Metropolitan Police and The London Ambulance Service are also in attendance."
Hundreds of passengers were forced to take to the tarmac while the incident was investigated, with others also told to remain onboard landed flights.
All flights from the airport have also been temporarily halted, with other flights arriving from destinations such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Paris getting diverted to other airports.
Connaught Road and Connaught Bridge, situated close to the airport, have also been closed following the incident.
Last flights to land at City Airport:
15:50 | BA3285 | Isle of Man (IOM) | British Airways | SB20 | G-CDKA | Landed 15:39 |
15:55 | BA4456 | Rotterdam (RTM) | British Airways | E170 | G-LCYE | Landed 15:52 |
16:20 | BA8725 | Glasgow (GLA) | British Airways | E190 | G-LCYS | Landed 15:58 |
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