WASHINGTON- Passengers at Dulles International Airport (IAD) who were getting ready for their flights had to be evacuated for approximately 90 minutes due to an incident involving a Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) police segway that unexpectedly caught fire within the terminal.
An MWAA spokesperson said the incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. at a departure terminal.
Washington Dulles Airport Fire
The cause of the incident remains unknown, but an officer’s Segway scooter began emitting smoke and ignited. Subsequently filling the airport with a dense cloud of smoke. Further, the incident resulted in injuries to two officers.
“As a precautionary measure, passengers were evacuated from the departures area of the terminal,” stated agency spokesperson James Johnson in an email response to WTOP.
The airport’s fire and rescue department promptly responded to the incident, working to control the fire and manage the smoke by ventilating it from various parts of the terminal.
Simultaneously, authorities initiated the evacuation of all individuals on the departure levels of the main terminal.
The fire and rescue efforts were successfully concluded by around 9 p.m., leading to the reentry of passengers and staff into the building. Johnson noted that normal operations were reinstated.
Following the incident, two officers from the Airport Authority police were taken to a local hospital for assessment, and it is anticipated that they will recover without complications. No additional injuries related to the fire incident were reported.
Similar Incidents
On June 14, 2023, a fire incident occurred at the Kolkata Airport, causing disruption to operations. Subsequently, the dedicated firefighting team promptly sprung into action to combat the flames.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries thus far. As a precautionary measure, all take-off and landing activities have been temporarily halted for the time being. According to airport officials, the fire broke out specifically in the 3C departure terminal building.
In a swift and coordinated response, firefighters immediately rushed to the fire scene at Kolkata Airport. Their primary objective was to extinguish the flames and ensure the safety of passengers and staff within the vicinity.
To maintain safety protocols and assess the situation thoroughly, airport authorities temporarily suspended all take-off and landing operations at Kolkata Airport.
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