Inside the ‘mass hysteria event’ at Heathrow Terminal 4 – what led to the evacuation of UK’s busiest airport?
How the chaos at London Heathrow’s Terminal 4 unfolded
- London Heathrow Airport's Terminal 4 was evacuated on Monday evening due to a reported “possible hazardous materials” incident.
- Police, fire, and ambulance services responded, with specialist teams in hazmat suits searching the terminal, but no adverse substances were found.
- The incident caused significant disruption, delaying dozens of flights by up to four hours and affecting thousands of passengers, many of whom missed onward connections.
- Around 20 people reported injuries, and a Metropolitan Police insider suggested the panic may have been a 'mass hysteria event'.
- Terminal 4 reopened later that evening, and operations returned to normal on Tuesday, with Heathrow apologising for the disruption.