AUTHOR Robert Gillespie

Manchester airport Evacuated

On the 2nd April the busy Easter weekend, Manchester airport evacuated all its passengers and staff a like as it laid baron for 4 hours despite the bomb disposal unit and police of course being within, the closure caused about 10 flight delays to and from the airport in the time. Terminal 1 of Manchester airport was completely evacuated after there was a bomb scare from a baggage scanner after it flagged up a suspicious looking image.

The scare came at about 8:15am on the Monday and left the terminal closed until about 12:15pm when eventually the “bomb” was declared safe by bomb disposal experts. The busiest Easter weekend was probably the worst time to have such a scare with many passengers being delayed. I’ve kept you long enough your probably wondering what this “suspicious package” is was it a bomb where they right to close the airport. Well what it actually turned out to be was a mobile phone packed tightly with contact lens fluid forming a shape that resembled that of the image of a bomb underneath the baggage scanner.

Was it better to be safe than sorry?

Many passengers were annoyed by not only the fact it wasn’t a bomb it was merely contact lens fluid which is ridiculous enough but more to the point it took 4 hours to reopen the terminal. Police and bomb disposal experts were also called to the scene as a precaution wasting their valuable time and money.

On the other hand what would have happened if it would have been a bomb however? There would have been a national scare and the airport would have been shut for a much longer time but no one would have complained. Surely it must be better to be safe than sorry, despite all the angry passengers it was worth it to check.

A little note for next time you go to the airport doesn’t pack your contact lens fluid next to your mobile phone! Warning could cause severe delays.

Having worked in the car rental industry for over 15 years, he really knows his stuff. Rob heads up our marketing department and as a keen traveller, always has a new location to talk about. Particularly if there is a golf course nearby.

Robert Gillespie

Traveller