Heathrow Terminal 4 evacuated after suspected hazardous material incident; no threat found

London Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 4 was evacuated on the evening of September 8 after emergency services responded to a report of a possible hazardous materials incident. Firefighters and paramedics arrived at the terminal, and passengers were told not to travel there while authorities investigated.

The closure was limited to Terminal 4, with the rest of Heathrow continuing normal operations. Flights were not disrupted, and the terminal reopened later that evening after about three and a half hours. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that “no trace of any adverse substance was found,” though around 20 people reported minor injuries. None of these injuries were considered life-threatening or life-changing. Authorities indicated that the event might have been related to “mass hysteria.”

A spokesperson for Heathrow Airport stated: “Emergency services have confirmed Terminal 4 is safe to reopen and we are doing everything we can to ensure all flights to depart as planned today. We are very sorry for the disruption caused, the safety and security of our passengers and colleagues is our number one priority. We encourage passengers to check with their airline for the latest information about their flight this evening and our colleagues will be on hand into the night to assist.”