The OR Tambo International Airport resumed operations at its domestic arrivals department after a security scare on Wednesday evening.
Why was OR Tambo Airport’s domestic arrivals evacuated?
Panic set out at Johannesburg’s international airport when, at approximately 18:56, OR Tambo airport officials ordered an immediate evacuation of the domestic arrivals department.
At the time, airport officials only noted that the emergency evacuation was a precautionary measure undertaken by OR Tambo’s security cluster.
“The Airport’s Domestic Arrivals is currently being evacuated. This is a precautionary measure. Further updates will be communicated once the matter has been fully investigated. We do profusely apologise for the inconvenience caused,” the airport noted.
Frustrated passengers flying into Johannesburg from other parts of the country were stuck in transit buses. One user named Roro Mogotsi complained that she was “still waiting in the bus… an hour and counting,” while another passenger, Chantelle Paramanand, found herself “in a [Fly Safair] aircraft, waiting.”
OR Tambo airport’s security cluster has yet to surface with more details on the cause of the emergency evacuation. The domestic arrivals department was reopened again at 19:49 after it was “declared safe by the security cluster.”
OR Tambo’s statement also noted that all local and international departments are operating normally and domestic arrivals “flights are currently disembarking.”
“We apologise for the inconvenience caused.” the airport said.
This is a developing story.