No flights are taking off or landing from Sydney’s airports after emergency services were called to the air traffic control tower amid reports of a fire.
The call came in at around 11:40 a.m. and the tower has since been evacuated. Fire and Rescue NSW who are on the scene said about 20 personnel were inside the building at the time.
“There is a full ground stop in place with no aircraft departing or arriving at this time,” an Airservices Australia spokeswoman said.
The Sydney Air Traffic Control Tower has been evacuated after smoke was detected. There is a full ground stop in place with no aircraft departing or arriving at this time @SydneyAirport. We will update you as soon as we know more. pic.twitter.com/Riw1l59tDP
— AirservicesAustralia (@AirservicesNews) March 29, 2019
The government-owned body also confirmed the reports of smoke on Twitter, “The Sydney Air Traffic Control Tower has been evacuated after smoke was detected.
“There is a full ground stop in place with no aircraft departing or arriving at this time @SydneyAirport.”
All flight in and out of Sydney Airport have been placed into a holding pattern after a control tower had to be evacuated @Y7News
Details | https://t.co/mIh0lUEk7y#Qantas #Jetstar #Virgin pic.twitter.com/O2N2vv5HLj
— Samuel Hussey (@smhussey) March 29, 2019
People near the airport said that without all the air traffic overhead, things were eerily quiet around Sydney Airport.
It has suddenly gone VERY quiet at Sydney Airport. Nothing in or out, diversions everywhere. pic.twitter.com/kSvLZDl3uf
— Dr Darren Saunders (@whereisdaz) March 29, 2019
What looks like a Military aircraft making loops over #sydneyairport @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/uUz7uxDiXe
— Sam Harkus (@SamHarkus) March 29, 2019
At 12:37 p.m., a tweet came through with an update that the smoke situation at the tower was now under control after help from firefighters, and that staff had been cleared to return to the tower.
UPDATE: 12:37 – Firefighters have cleared staff to return to the Tower. We expect to be operational in the next 10 mins.
— AirservicesAustralia (@AirservicesNews) March 29, 2019
“We expect to be operational in the next 10 min.,” the tweet said. An earlier tweet said that part of traffic control was already back online to process arrivals, although passengers were told to expect delays. The tweet said that there would still be no departures at this time.
UPDATE: Air Traffic Control in Sydney are now processing arrivals. Aircraft are landing albeit a slower rate. Nil departures at this time. @SydneyAirport
— AirservicesAustralia (@AirservicesNews) March 29, 2019
Airservices Australia also clarified that despite the interruptions, the airport was not in lockdown.
UPDATE at 12:24: Please note, we are not in lockdown as media reports.
— AirservicesAustralia (@AirservicesNews) March 29, 2019
Airlines operating in the area have also been posting updates on their Twitter feeds.
Due to the Sydney Air Traffic Control tower being evacuated, there are currently no aircraft flying in and out of Sydney Airport. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. To check your flight status, click here: https://t.co/m479B0nZMc
— Virgin Australia (@VirginAustralia) March 29, 2019
Local media 10 daily reported that an overheated short circuit battery had been responsible for the evacuation.
“It got everyone very nervous, but all is well that ends well,” a spokesperson said.
