Airport evacuated amid explosives security alert

Published on Wednesday 11 May 2011 17:59

AN ISLAND airport was evacuated yesterday after a passenger's laptop set off a security alert.

A computer being carried by the passenger, who was attempting to board a flight at Islay Airport in the Inner Hebrides, tested positive during a routine explosive trace detection security check.

The airport was evacuated and closed at 10:40am and a 50-metre exclusion zone was set up around the building. The airport road was also closed.

A police investigation was launched involving Special Branch officers, and the Department for Transport was informed.

A spokeswoman for Highlands and Islands Airports said: "A passenger's computer registered a positive reading during a routine explosive trace detection security check at Islay Airport.

"The airport was evacuated and secured."

The airport was partially re-opened last night, and flight BE 6927 Glasgow to Islay departed as scheduled.

Islay Airport runs flights to Colonsay and Oban, operated by Hebridean Airways, as well as services to Glasgow, operated by Flybe.