Heathrow Airport's Terminal 4 was evacuated on Monday evening after the London Fire Brigade responded to a possible hazardous materials incident. Specialist crews were deployed to assess the scene as emergency services took precautionary measures.
The London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "Firefighters are responding to a possible hazardous materials incident at Heathrow Airport. Specialist crews have been deployed to carry out an assessment of the scene, and Terminal 4 has been evacuated as a precaution while firefighters respond."
Emergency services received the initial alert at 17:01, with crews dispatched from multiple stations across west London. Fire teams from Feltham, Heathrow, Wembley and surrounding stations were sent to respond to the incident.
Airport Response
Heathrow Airport immediately advised passengers to avoid travelling to Terminal 4 while emergency services managed the situation. The airport said in a statement: "Terminal 4 check-in has been closed and evacuated while emergency services respond to an incident."
Airport staff were deployed to support affected passengers on site during the evacuation. The airport confirmed that all other terminals continued operating normally throughout the incident, with only Terminal 4 affected by the emergency response.
Transport Impact
Rail services to Heathrow Terminal 4 were suspended due to the ongoing incident, according to National Rail Enquiries. The disruption affected one of the key transport links to the terminal during the evening rush period.
Heathrow serves as the UK's busiest airport, making any operational disruption significant for travellers. The airport promised to provide updates as soon as more information became available about the incident's resolution.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
