Christchurch Airport (CHC) has reopened and operations were resumed following an evacuation after a suspicious item was found inside the domestic terminal at 8:00 AM local time September 9, 2021.
The airport’s Facebook page confirmed that Level 1 of the domestic terminal was evacuated at around 0800 local time after a suspicious item was found at the screening point.
Our terminal is currently evacuated while Aviation Security and Police deal with an incident. We will provide updated details when possible. pic.twitter.com/iz3uy4zjLf
— Christchurch Airport (@CHC_Airport) September 8, 2021
Police were called to head the inquiry and the New Zealand Defence Force’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit was called for back-up and precaution.
And though several flights have been affected and several hundreds of passengers were impacted, local police confirmed that no threats were made.
Update 1/2: The incident which has seen the Christchurch Airport terminal evacuated is over.
Level 1 of the terminal was evacuated soon after 0800 after a suspicious item was found at the screening point. Police are in charge of the inquiry and say no threats have been made. pic.twitter.com/NEs0GovfD4
— Christchurch Airport (@CHC_Airport) September 8, 2021
Update 2/2:
Several flights have been affected and several hundred passengers impacted.The terminal has re-opened and people are re-entering. pic.twitter.com/GVuxolpwOy
— Christchurch Airport (@CHC_Airport) September 8, 2021
At around 10:40 am local time, Christchurch Airport’s social media pages confirmed that the terminal had reopened, and that people were re-entering.