Flights delayed at Sydney Airport as smoke fills international terminal

Smoke has filled the international terminal at Sydney Airport this afternoon after a fire broke out in the departures screening area with passengers evacuated and told to expect delays.

Smoke filled the shopping area in Terminal 1. Picture: Twitter/@LifeFlyingBy

A fire at Sydney International Airport is expected to cause cancellations and delays this afternoon.
The blaze broke out in Terminal 1, filling the airport’s duty free shopping section with smoke.
Passengers were evacuated from the area as airport fire crews extinguished the flames at around 2pm.

Ms Maroney said firefighters were holding the battery in a box after it was extinguished. Picture: Twitter/@TaraMaroney7

Airservices Australia said in a statement: “our aviation fire fighters have put out a fire in Terminal 1. Passengers have been evacuated and delays can be expected for those departing.

Please check with your airlines for flight updates.”

2GB radio producer Tara Maroney was in the terminal when passengers began evacuating duty free.

“Can confirm. Terminal full of smoke. Police moving everyone out of the main shopping duty free area.”

Ms Maroney said she was told by security that a battery “from a robotics conference that’s been in town” had caught fire.

Operations resumed as normal just after 3pm with Sydney Airport confirming processing had recommenced after “an issue with a battery”.