Passengers are evacuated from Sydney Airport after a fire breaks out near security in the international terminal
- A fire broke out at Sydney Airport near a security screening area on Wednesday
- It's believed the fire started from a battery that was inside a passenger's robot
- The passenger had been at a robotics conference in Sydney last week
- Travellers were ordered to leave Terminal 1 - the international terminal
- Smoke was seen in the main shopping area but the fire has since been put out
A fire broke out at Sydney International Airport on Wednesday afternoon, with reports the fire started from a 'robot' someone tried to bring through security.
Travellers were ordered to leave Terminal 1 after a small blaze near the security screening area.
Security guards at the airport said the fire started from a Lithium Polymer battery that was dropped and started to smoke.
A passenger who had been at a robotics conference in Sydney was holding the robot and was asked by staff to take out the battery, The Australian reported.
To remove the battery, the passenger had to cut a wire but accidentally cut the wrong one - sparking the fire.
Authorities confirmed the blaze was 'battery-related' and there was minimal damage to the terminal.
Acrid smoke could be seen billowing through the airport after a small blaze started in the security screening area
Acrid smoke could be seen billowing through the main shopping duty free area of the terminal at around 2.30, as aviation firefighters put out the small blaze.
'We couldn't see a fire but we could smell it,' Sydney radio producer Tara Moroney said.
'Police and security started pushing people back about 25-30 meters towards the McDonalds in the terminal.'
Delays are expected and the fire has since been put out.
Spokespeople for Jetstar and QANTAS said their passengers won't experience any delays and their flights weren't affected.
Passengers at the terminal are now being reprocessed.
Passengers have been evacuated from Sydney Airport after a fire broke out
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
