Sydney Airport control tower incident sparks evacuations and flight delays

Sydney Airport was thrown into chaos after an incident in the control tower sparked evacuations and delays to flights. 

Flights were grounded while one inbound plane already in the air was diverted on Sunday. 

Frustrated travellers vented their anger online amid early reports the delays had been caused by a fire.

‘On flight from #Canberra to #Sydney and just been informed by flight staff that there has been a fire in the tower at Sydney airport,’ one wrote.

‘Everything is on hold!! No idea how long the delays. Do I get to Perth today??’

Another added: ‘Not a great start to my Tampa trip. Flight from Gold Coast to Sydney has been grounded due to #sydneyairport control tower evacuation. 

‘Unlikely I’ll make my multiple connections.’ 

A third person wrote: ‘Control tower at Sydney Airport apparently evacuated. 

‘Flights grounded and diverted. May as well get comfortable as we wait to find out when we’ll be leaving Ballina.’ 

The incident is understood to have come under control later in the morning with flights already resuming. 

The incident prompted flights to be grounded while inbound planes already in the air were diverted

An Air Services Australia spokesman confirmed the control tower had been evacuated for one hour.

‘Airservices Australia’s Sydney Tower was this morning evacuated for one hour due to gas fumes through the air-conditioning,’ he said.

‘Airservices’ Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Service was in attendance. No one was harmed in the incident.

‘All air traffic management services have now been restored. A Ground Stop – and holding NOTAM (notice to pilots and industry) have now been cancelled.

‘One international diversion occurred, with a United Airlines aircraft diverted to Brisbane.’