Luton airport returns to normal after serious security scare

Luton Airport is expected to return to normal service this morning after a major security scare caused chaos for holidaymakers.

The airport had been evacuated with all flights suspended and roads shut following the discovery of a suspicious item, identified in reports as a pair of hair straighteners, in the security search area.

Bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion on the item before customers were allowed to return to the terminal almost four hours later.

Late last night, a spokesman for Luton Airport said: “Flights in and out of London Luton Airport have now resumed following the earlier evacuation due to a security alert.

“We are working hard throughout the night and into tomorrow morning when we expect operations to return to normal.”

According to the airport’s live departure board a Thomson flight to the Spanish city of Reus set to depart at 5.50am today is estimated to leave at 8am, while an 8.30am flight to Palma de Mallorca on the same airline is estimated to depart at 10.40am.

Yesterday, Bedfordshire Police said: “We can confirm that controlled explosion has taken place at Luton Airport. Item is safe.

“No-one has been arrested in relation to this incident.”