An investigation has been launched after a fire broke out at Malta Airport.
Hundreds of passengers were evacuated from the terminal building in Gudja after the blaze erupted in the arrivals lounge.
More than 15 flights, including British Airways, Ryanair, Thomson Holidays and Easyjet services, were suspended for two hours as a precaution.
Passengers praised the police and airport officials for their handling of the situation.
Barbara Lloyd, who was waiting to fly home to Dublin, told 89.7 Bay: ‘I started smelling smoke and couldn’t tell where it was coming from. Then I was told ‘madam you need get out, there’s a fire’.
‘There was no panic, everyone stayed calm.’
Neil Henderson, who was due to fly to Gatwick with British Airways, said: ‘The police told us there was a fire and we should get out of the building.
‘It was all pretty organised and well handled. But you do worry about what caused the fire.’
A spokeswoman for Malta Airport told 89.7 Bay: ‘The flight schedule is now being brought back into step following the re-opening of the aerodrome.
‘Operations were temporarily suspended between 1:45pm and 3:45pm.
‘An inquiry is underway to establish the exact cause of the fire.
‘Malta Airport would like to thank all those involved in the evacuation and subsequent recovery process, especially the Civil Protection Department, the Armed Forces of Malta, Malta Police, Mater Dei Hospital and MIA’s Rescue and Fire Services team.
‘We apologise for any inconvenience caused’.
The following flights were delayed because of the emergency alert:
Departures
Ryanair FR2537 to Catania
Scandinavian Airlines Flight SK1846 to Stockholm
Emirates – EK110 to Larnaca/Dubai
Ryanair – FR7243 to Dublin
Thomson – TOM4267 to London Gatwick
Air Malta – KM3658 to Catania
Wizz Air – W63260 to Otopeni
Ryanair – FR7592 to Ciampino
Air Malta – KM420 to Brussels
British Airways – BA2645 to London Gatwick
Arrivals
British Airways – BA2644 from London Gatwick
Thomson – TOM4266 from London Gatwic
Ryanair – FR8812 from Krakow
Air Malta – KM307 from Munich
Ryanair – FR7591 from Ciampino
Ryanair – FR2538 from Catania
The blaze broke out at around 1.15pm in a pump room near the arrivals concourse.
Emergency services, including firefighters, paramedics and the police, rushed to the scene after the alarm was raised.
There were no reports of any injuries, according to iNewsMalta.
