An emergency evacuation message has sparked chaos at Brisbane International Airport as hundreds of travellers were ordered to leave the arrivals hall.
A call was made over the loudspeaker about 9am on Tuesday, with dozens of people evacuated as fire crews arrived.
One traveller said it had started to feel ‘super hot, like they turned the AC off’.
‘Apparently the people on level 2 are in arrivals. So they just got off the plane and are trapped by Border Force,’ they wrote on X.
‘The vibe I get from the announcements is that they’re freaking out down there.’
The traveller said airport staff ‘seemed confused’ and that nobody seemed to know where the exit was.
Another passenger said they were ‘one minute’ from boarding their flight when the evacuation message came through.
‘Now everyone is aimless. No staff to give direction,’ they wrote.
One passenger said it had started to feel ‘super hot’ inside the international airport (pictured)
Dozens of people were evacuated from the arrivals hall as fire trucks arrived (pictured)
Another commenter claimed smoke was coming out of a ceiling space.
‘Possible electrical fire,’ they said.
A Brisbane Airport spokesperson said the testing of an air conditioning unit’s heating element created a small amount of smoke, activating the alarm at about 8am.
‘All passengers on Level 4 of the terminal were evacuated, causing delays for some departing international flights, and traffic congestion around the precinct,’ they said.
‘Passengers have now returned to the terminal, and processing is being prioritised based on flight schedules.
‘Brisbane Airport apologises for delays as a result of this morning’s evacuation.
‘There is no impact to operations at the Domestic Terminal.
‘Passengers have now returned to level 4 of Brisbane Airport’s International Terminal, following a precautionary evacuation.’
