‘It was messy’: Brisbane Airport evacuated, flights delayed as smoke triggers alarm

Up 1000 people were evacuated from a floor at Brisbane Airport’s international terminal, causing delays to flights, after testing of an air-conditioning unit caused smoke.

Just after 8am, testing of an air-conditioning unit’s heating element created smoke, which activated the fire alarm.

All passengers on level four of the international terminal were evacuated, causing delays for some departing international flights, and traffic congestion around the precinct.

Among the flights delayed was a Qantas flight to Tokyo, which was scheduled to depart at 9.20am, but later estimated for 12pm, while a flight to Wellington at 8.50am was expected to leave at 10am.

One passenger said the evacuation seemed “extremely disorganised”, with people rushed onto the road at the international drop-off area, and then told to get back onto the footpath when a fire truck arrived.

“It was a very disorganised exodus of the terminal,” he said.

“Everybody when the alarm went off milled around until staff started yelling to go outside.

“It was messy.”

The passenger said he was worried security screening was lax on the return to the departures area, as people were told to remove items from their pockets but not to empty bags.

But a Brisbane Airport spokesman said: “categorically, every single person going back in was screened”, and the screening process was entirely normal.

Security screening rules were updated in mid-December with the arrival of new technology, which allows laptops and toiletries to remain inside bags.

The spokesman said vehicle access was blocked on level four to allow passengers to leave the terminal onto the footpath and road.

“Emergency vehicles were, of course, allowed into this area with traffic control teams providing a safe escort,” he said.

A Queensland Fire Department spokesman said five fire crews attended, and were cleared to leave at 8.35am.

A video from the terminal showed passengers walking towards the exit while an emergency alarm blares, while another passenger reported it became “super hot”, like the air conditioning had been turned off.

The airport spokesman said passengers had returned to the terminal, and processing was being prioritised based on flight schedules.

“Brisbane Airport apologises for delays as a result of this morning’s evacuation,” he said.

Incoming international flights continued, and there was no impact to the domestic terminal.

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