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Glasgow Airport was closed for several hours on Monday morning after a suspicious object triggered a bomb alert.
Passengers were evacuated and the plane grounded at the last minute after the object was found in the security search hall just before 6am.
Police then closed off the security and check-in areas before a Royal Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposing team was sent to the scene.
A bomb robot was seen entering the airport while passengers were being moved into a car park.
Staff handed out emergency blankets to protect against the cold as well as bottles of water.
After more than four hours, the object was confirmed as “innocent” and passengers began to be driven back to the departure terminal.
But at least 27 flights in and out of the airport were cancelled, according to the airport’s direct departures board, while some arrivals were diverted.
They included departures due to take off after the incident was stopped, such as a 2.45pm Ryanair flight to Dublin.
Several of the canceled arrivals had been due to land at similar times to other planes that were allowed to land.
SNP MP Patricia Gibson said she was caught up in the incident on her “morning commute” to Westminster, tweeting a picture of herself wrapped in an emergency blanket.
She told Westsound News: ‘The airport staff have been looking after people as best they can but it’s a very cold day and people have been out here for hours.’
A Glasgow Airport spokesman said: “Police Scotland has confirmed that this morning’s incident has been brought to a standstill and our staff are now in the process of welcoming passengers back to the terminal and providing any assistance where necessary.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank our passengers for their continued patience.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: ‘At around 5.55am on Monday 5 December 2022, police were called to a report of a suspicious object in the security screening hall at Glasgow Airport.
“As a precaution and in accordance with procedures, the check-in and security hall area was closed to the public.
“Following examination of the item by the Royal Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team (EOD) it was confirmed that it posed no risk to the public and was innocuous in nature.
“All areas of the airport are in the process of being reopened.”
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