Bomb Alert Sparks Chaos at Biggin Hill Airport
Emergency services rushed to Biggin Hill Airport in Kent just after 1pm on Tuesday, 29th November. Contractors working near the main passenger terminal uncovered suspected incendiary devices, believed to be leftover World War II unexploded ordnance (UXO).
Airport Staff and Passengers Evacuated, But Flights Still Operating
Passengers and staff were swiftly moved away from the affected area while bomb disposal experts from the Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team were called in. A Met Police spokesperson said:
“We were called at 12:54hrs after a suspected unexploded ordnance was found during building works. Cordons were put in place while specialists assessed the device. The item was then taken away for safe disposal. The airport remains open and operational.”
Historic RAF Base Still Retains Its War-Era Legacy
Biggin Hill isn’t just any airport. It was famously a key Royal Air Force station, RAF Biggin Hill, playing a critical role during the Battle of Britain in WWII. It was one of the principal fighter bases protecting London and South East England from deadly Luftwaffe bombers.
Today, a small enclave of the airport still holds that historic RAF designation, making the discovery of wartime explosives less surprising but no less serious.
Police Confirm Cordon and Airport Operations
Police confirmed to Bromley Council that the cordon is entirely within Biggin Hill Airport grounds. Despite the scare and ongoing bomb disposal operation, the airport remains open and flights continue as usual.
