Melbourne Airport Qantas Terminal Evacuated Following Fire; Flights Disrupted
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A fire triggered the evacuation of the Qantas terminal at Melbourne Airport on Friday evening, causing widespread disruption to travel plans for thousands of passengers. While the blaze has been extinguished, significant delays and cancellations continue to impact flights in and out of the major Australian hub.
A Melbourne Airport spokesperson confirmed that Terminal 1 was evacuated in response to activated fire alarms. Fire Rescue Victoria and the airport’s aviation fire teams responded to the incident, successfully containing and extinguishing the fire.
Passengers Stranded as Operations Halt
The incident brought Qantas aircraft to a standstill on the tarmac, and thousands of passengers were compelled to exit the terminal building. According to reports, arriving flights were unable to disembark, creating a backlog of planes waiting for clearance.
One passenger, traveling from Sydney and identified as a journalist with the ABC, described the scene. “We landed and were just turning off the runway when we stopped and the captain came on and said we couldn’t go further because there was some sort of incident involving a fire and the terminal had been evacuated,” he recounted. “At least two other flights, maybe three pulled up behind us—it’s hard to tell through the rain—and the captain just said there were four flights queued in front of us.”
The journalist noted that after approximately one hour, pilots began implementing contingency plans to move waiting aircraft. However, some passengers remained on the tarmac for up to two hours after landing.
Partial Reopening and Ongoing Disruptions
Emergency services have since deemed the terminal safe for partial reopening, and passengers are now returning to the building. Despite the progress, Qantas has acknowledged delays to both incoming and outgoing flights, with the duration of the disruptions remaining uncertain.
A number of flights have already been cancelled, impacting travel to and from Brisbane, Sydney, and Adelaide. Melbourne Airport authorities have emphasized that the safety of passengers and staff remains the top priority.
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The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time, and an investigation is underway to determine the origin and prevent future incidents. Travelers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest flight information and anticipate potential delays.