Aer Lingus flight EI3647 scheduled to arrive in Belfast from Birmingham was compelled to return to the airport due to reports of a “suspicious object” on board, leading to the closure of the airport.
Passengers were observed being evacuated from the aircraft and guided along the runway by police, with four bomb disposal units present on-site.
The Aer Lingus flight, operated by Emerald Airlines, had to return to Birmingham, resulting in the official closure of the airport “until further notice.”
An Aer Lingus spokeswoman verified that the item found on flight EI3647 was not a security risk and mentioned that efforts were underway to assist affected passengers, while inquiries to airport authorities for additional comments were made.
A written statement from Aer Lingus said: “we can confirm that an undeclared item discovered on Aer Lingus Regional flight EI3647, operated by Emerald Airlines, from Birmingham to Belfast today was not a security risk. Our teams are currently working to accommodate impacted passengers’.
