South Africa’s main airport evacuated in bomb scare

JOHANNESBURG: Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo airport, Africa’s largest, was evacuated on Monday and passengers forced to wait for two hours to return after South African officials identified a suspect bag.

Images of the deserted terminal were posted to social media while other photographs showed crowds of passengers waiting on roadways for the all-clear to return inside. The airport’s international arrivals hall was evacuated around 0915 GMT after the errant baggage was spotted and airport users were unable to re-enter until after 1115 GMT, airport spokeswoman Leigh Gunkel-Keuler told AFP.

"To ensure the safety of passengers and customers in the airport terminal building, people were evacuated from the area," she added in a statement. "The police service has now provided airport management with the assurance that passengers and customers can now return to the airport terminal building."

The incident caused delays to several flights although the airport had largely returned to normal operation, she added. "We apologise to clients, passengers, retail concessionaires and all other stakeholders for the inconvenience and ask that they plan accordingly." More than 20.6 million passengers use the airport every year and 41 airlines serve the facility according to its operator, Airports Company South Africa.