Heathrow suspends all Terminal 3 departures due to airport security issue

Eyewitness says terminal was put into lockdown after a man grabbed his bag and ran through security after it had been pulled aside to be checked.

Flights have been suspended from Heathrow’s Terminal 3 due to a security issue, a spokesman for the airport has said. Departures from the mainly long-haul terminal were stopped “for a short time” on Friday morning, a representative for the west London hub said. Unconfirmed reports said the alert was triggered by a passenger who attempted to run through security with an unscreened bag.

Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said officers were at the scene dealing with reports of a “suspicious package”.Eyewitnesses described seeing armed police conducting searches of flights shortly before departure.Tim Chambers, who was onboard a British Airways flight to Bilbao, told the Press Association his plane was grounded for two hours due to a suspected “security lapse”.

Armed police search an unidentified BA flight on the tarmac at Heathrow’s Terminal 3 (PA)The passenger said the captain on his flight had told passengers the delays were due to an incident involving a man said to have grabbed his bag and run through security after it had been pulled aside to be checked.

Flights from the terminal were able to resume and an investigation has been launched, a spokesman confirmed toThe Independent.“Departures were suspended for a short time from Terminal 3 due to a security issue,” the airport said in a statement.”We are very sorry to any passengers whose journeys are affected.”The safety and security of our passengers and colleagues is paramount.”

 

 

Credit: The independent