An Air Europa pilot accidentally set off an alarm, prompting a major security lockdown at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, the airline says.
Reception area at the Amsterdam Schiphol airport (file photo). Photo: 123RF
Earlier, Schiphol airport said on social media that the passengers and crew had been safely transported off the plane and an investigation was ongoing.
Passengers and crew are safely off board. On-site research is still continuing. https://t.co/hZvl0Dq5ig
— Schiphol (@Schiphol) November 6, 2019
"In a plane from Amsterdam to Madrid tonight an alarm was accidentally activated which set off safety protocols at the airport," Air Europa said in a statement.
"There was no cause for alarm, all passengers were fine and waiting for the flight to take off.
"We are sorry, there was no cause for alarm," the Spanish airline said.
Images posted on social media showed parts of the airport's D-pier cordoned off to the public.
Police and ambulances were earlier deployed near the aircraft, witnesses said.
Schiphol is one of the busiest transport hubs in Europe, handling more than 70 million passengers a year.
-Reuters / BBC