Amsterdam Schiphol airport evacuated due to ‘situation on plane’ | World news


Large areas of Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, including its railway station, have been evacuated while Dutch military police investigate what airport authorities described as a “situation onboard a plane”.

Local media said emergency services had been scrambled, a police special operations team was on site and two trauma helicopters were on their way to the airport. There was no immediate official confirmation of what the incident involved.

The airport is still operating but all inbound and outbound flights are delayed and some have been postponed indefinitely.

Dutch military police tweeted that they were investigating a “suspicious situation” onboard a plane and said more information would follow.

Local media cited multiple unnamed security service sources as saying the situation was a hostage taking, but there was no official confirmation.

The plane was reportedly an Air Europa flight to Madrid due to depart from pier D3 at about 7pm.

Schiphol
(@Schiphol)

The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee is currently investigating a situation on board of a plane at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. We keep you posted. https://t.co/AxwMZ7CZtT


November 6, 2019

The Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, told a meeting of his VVD party he may be called away because of the developing situation at Schiphol. “Something is going on, we are going to find out what is going on,” he said. “I am being kept informed.”

Reporters at the scene said on social media that large numbers of ambulances had drawn up at various points around the airport, but cautioned this could be a precautionary measure. Passengers tweeted pictures of the deserted airport.


peter vandermeersch
(@pvdmeersch)

Schiphol. pic.twitter.com/Vfa321xUEH


November 6, 2019

Utrecht railway station was also evacuated, passengers reported, although it was not clear whether this was in relation to events at Schiphol.

More details soon …




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