LHR T1 Partially Evacuated (20 March, 2011)
#1
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LHR T1 Partially Evacuated (20 March, 2011)
No more details apart from the banner on BAA Heathrow webpage.
Probably another numpty leaving a suitcase unattended
Probably another numpty leaving a suitcase unattended
#2
#3
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Reminds me of transiting through LHR a few years ago when the fire alarm went off. Half of the pax ran to the emergency exits while the rest remained on their seats as if nothing had happened. Another pax told me "the alarm has been going off every hour, no need to get up", I wasn´t too amused after 20h of travelling...
#6
Join Date: May 2006
Location: BRS (Bristol, UK)
Programs: LH SEN/*G
Posts: 1,266
Whilst working, many years ago, at MAN (when T3 was the domestic terminal), the fire alarm went off.
We had to shoo, cajole and bully passengers to evacuate the terminal, a full minute into the alarm (with no sign of it being false).
In the corner (where now there's a walkway down to the domestic gates and the DC lounge), there was a large crowd gathering at the emergency exit stairs down onto the apron. It turned out some guy had decided to take this trolley (with various bags on it) with him, and got it stuck on the stairs, blocking the way for everyone.
Meanwhile, out on the apron (onto which the emergency exit opened), there were some fairly concerned ground handlers shoo-ing passengers away from the props on the ATPs taxi-ing around.
So in short - passengers and fire alarms are never a good mix. Ever.
We had to shoo, cajole and bully passengers to evacuate the terminal, a full minute into the alarm (with no sign of it being false).
In the corner (where now there's a walkway down to the domestic gates and the DC lounge), there was a large crowd gathering at the emergency exit stairs down onto the apron. It turned out some guy had decided to take this trolley (with various bags on it) with him, and got it stuck on the stairs, blocking the way for everyone.
Meanwhile, out on the apron (onto which the emergency exit opened), there were some fairly concerned ground handlers shoo-ing passengers away from the props on the ATPs taxi-ing around.
So in short - passengers and fire alarms are never a good mix. Ever.
#7
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: UK
Programs: BD *G, ICHG Plat,MR GOLD,HH Gold
Posts: 64
T1 was partly evacuated Sunday Morning due to an alert in the airside pax area.
The public areas evacuation alert was activated both air and land side and these areas cleared.
The incident was not fire related but emergency services attended due to the nature of the incident.!
The evacuation signal and the fire alarm do sound very similar but there are differences to allow staff to respond accordingly.
My lips are sealed !!!!
The public areas evacuation alert was activated both air and land side and these areas cleared.
The incident was not fire related but emergency services attended due to the nature of the incident.!
The evacuation signal and the fire alarm do sound very similar but there are differences to allow staff to respond accordingly.
My lips are sealed !!!!
#8
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Ireland
Programs: BA: GOLD, MARRIOTT: TITANIUM, IHG: PLAT, HILTON: GOLD
Posts: 491
T1 was partly evacuated Sunday Morning due to an alert in the airside pax area.
The public areas evacuation alert was activated both air and land side and these areas cleared.
The incident was not fire related but emergency services attended due to the nature of the incident.!
The evacuation signal and the fire alarm do sound very similar but there are differences to allow staff to respond accordingly.
My lips are sealed !!!!
The public areas evacuation alert was activated both air and land side and these areas cleared.
The incident was not fire related but emergency services attended due to the nature of the incident.!
The evacuation signal and the fire alarm do sound very similar but there are differences to allow staff to respond accordingly.
My lips are sealed !!!!
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 11,578
T1 was partly evacuated Sunday Morning due to an alert in the airside pax area.
The public areas evacuation alert was activated both air and land side and these areas cleared.
The incident was not fire related but emergency services attended due to the nature of the incident.!
The evacuation signal and the fire alarm do sound very similar but there are differences to allow staff to respond accordingly.
My lips are sealed !!!!
The public areas evacuation alert was activated both air and land side and these areas cleared.
The incident was not fire related but emergency services attended due to the nature of the incident.!
The evacuation signal and the fire alarm do sound very similar but there are differences to allow staff to respond accordingly.
My lips are sealed !!!!
#10
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Northern Ireland
Programs: BA Silver, A3
Posts: 1,101
We came through LHR yesterday.
When we got to the point in T1 where you turn left to have your bar code scanned we were ushered right where it's signed Gate 2 and still have the bar code in our passports. (so are we technically still there I wonder?)
We sat for 90 minutes extra in the lounge so flights were affected. Until I asked the staff in the lounge we were told nothing. Then they said that the crews were stuck on the wrong side and couldn't get through. We certainly weren't given any notice to move and heard no alarm.
When we got to the point in T1 where you turn left to have your bar code scanned we were ushered right where it's signed Gate 2 and still have the bar code in our passports. (so are we technically still there I wonder?)
We sat for 90 minutes extra in the lounge so flights were affected. Until I asked the staff in the lounge we were told nothing. Then they said that the crews were stuck on the wrong side and couldn't get through. We certainly weren't given any notice to move and heard no alarm.
#12
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Seems like this might be better in Travel Safety/Security.
I wonder will details ever get out — was it a fire or security evacuation? (Were people required to be re-screened to get back into the airport?)
I wonder will details ever get out — was it a fire or security evacuation? (Were people required to be re-screened to get back into the airport?)
#13
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: London. Edinburgh, Cornwall
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#14
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Posts: 11,578
#15
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1
I was there flying back home that day and I've been trying to find any other details since. This is the first I've found. We got to Terminal 1 right as they evacuated everyone - staff and passengers. Police and firetrucks were all there with a dog-unit too. They weren't allowing any vehicles through so some people had to come in from Terminal 3. One of the staff said it was a bomb-scare and I did see they arrested somebody in a black trench coat. I was flying United and the staff did a great job making sure everyone could get to their flights on time as much as possible. Amazingly enough we made it to the plane on time.
Otherwise, I don't have any more details. Did people on the air-side have to evacuate? I find it very strange that there hasn't been ANY news on this.
Otherwise, I don't have any more details. Did people on the air-side have to evacuate? I find it very strange that there hasn't been ANY news on this.