Dublin Airport Evacuated as Terminal 2 security alert prompts hundreds to evacuate

Dublin Airport evacuated Terminal 2 on Sunday morning after a security alert prompted hundreds of passengers to leave the building as a precaution. The airport announced that passengers and staff should move to assembly points, and cautioned that flight operations may be temporarily impacted while authorities assess the situation.

Officials said the move was a safety precaution, with Garda and airport police on the scene and parts of nearby roads cordoned off. Ireland's Defence Forces have reportedly been asked to deploy a bomb disposal squad if needed, according to the Irish Independent. The full reason for the alert remained unclear as investigators began a preliminary review.

The incident in Dublin occurred hours after a cyber attack disrupted check-in and boarding systems at several major European airports. Passengers at Heathrow, as well as facilities in Brussels and Berlin, reported delays as hackers targeted Collins Aerospace, a supplier used by multiple airlines globally. Officials said hundreds of flights were affected as the disruptions spread across the network.

Brussels reported ten flight cancellations and 17 flights delayed by more than an hour, while Heathrow warned travelers to expect delays and to verify flight status with their airline before traveling. The cyber attack had prompted several airports to suspend or slow operations, with airline partners advising customers to monitor status updates.

Dublin Airport's statement emphasized passenger and staff safety as the top priority and advised anyone at the airport to follow staff to assembly points. The airport also noted that flight operations could be temporarily impacted and urged travelers to check with their airlines for current information.

Authorities described the Dublin security alert as a precautionary measure rather than a confirmed threat, and the investigation into the incident was expected to continue through the day. There was no immediate information about injuries or further evacuations, and officials cautioned that conditions could change as the situation developed.

As the European aviation network negotiates the fallout from the cyber incident, airports urged patience and urged travelers to remain alert for updated guidance from carriers and security officials. While Dublin provided a statement detailing the steps being taken, investigators stressed that the precise cause of the alert would take time to determine and that additional information would be released as it became available.