Jersey Airport was evacuated early Wednesday morning following a security incident, prompting authorities to suspend all flight operations. Armed police, along with firefighters, swiftly responded to the scene. Meanwhile, al travellers were urgently escorted to designated assembly points.
An alarm reportedly sounded at around 6.30 am, leading to the immediate evacuation of approximately 200 people inside the terminal. Traffic around the airport was also diverted as emergency services took control of the situation.
Jersey police issued an urgent advisory asking the public to avoid the airport until further notice. In an official statement, Ports of Jersey confirmed the evacuation and ongoing collaboration with law enforcement to manage the situation.
“Airport operations are currently suspended. We are advising passengers to contact their airlines for updates,” the statement read. “Our top priority is ensuring the safety and security of everyone at the airport.”
Ashley Maggs, airport operations director, assured the public that authorities were “taking every precaution” while investigating the security threat. In a later press conference at 9.30 am, Maggs provided an update, saying that the situation was “evolving well” and that the airport was expected to reopen within a few hours.
He explained that security checks were ongoing, “Some bags are still in central search, and we’ll have to go through the process of re-screening them. If any baggage is already on planes, it will need to be removed and checked as well.”
Maggs emphasised that while the threat had been deemed “non-credible,” authorities had to take every precaution to ensure safety. “We’ve got the expertise on the island, and we’ve got the people here that are helping support us,” he added.
Passengers scheduled to travel today have been advised to contact their airlines for further updates.
Eyewitness accounts painted a tense scene at the airport. George Bridger, a passenger en route to Dublin, recounted his experience on BBC Radio Jersey. He had just cleared security and purchased a drink when alarms began sounding. “Armed police arrived, fire trucks and lots of police vehicles turned up at the airport. I think we all realized it was a serious matter,” he said.
Another passenger, Rena Dunphy, described the heavy police presence at the airport, adding that she was led to an assembly point along with others after the alarm went off. More than 100 people, including airport staff, chose to wait at the nearby Strive Health Club for updates but were later advised to return home and check the airport’s website for further information.
