Berlin’s BER Airport experienced a significant disruption Thursday evening due to a hazardous substance alert. Police cleared a section of Terminal 1 after receiving a concerning report. However, investigators found no danger, and the affected area was reopened late the same evening.
A woman approached a Federal Police service point, stating she possessed a hazardous substance. According to a police spokesperson, the nature of the unidentified substance initially prevented ruling out a danger. This uncertainty immediately triggered the hazardous materials alert.
The airport operator confirmed the incident, stating Federal Police initiated the alert around 5:45 p.m. local time. For safety, the public area of Terminal 1 was swiftly cleared. Meanwhile, aircraft already prepared for departure were permitted to take off on schedule. Inbound flights were also allowed to land, as only the public area required evacuation; zones behind security checkpoints remained unaffected.
Passengers were promptly asked to exit the building. Afterward, fire crews thoroughly inspected the cleared sections. By approximately 8:45 p.m., police lifted all precautionary measures. A Federal Police spokesperson later confirmed no danger had existed at any point, though details about the substance itself were not disclosed.
As a result of the police action, passenger handling shifted to Terminal 2 “as far as possible.” Delays and some flight cancellations persisted until the end of operations for the day. Passengers were strongly advised to check flight statuses directly with their airlines or on airport displays. While flight operations were not suspended entirely, takeoffs and landings were temporarily limited.
Additionally, Deutsche Bahn train service between Schönefeld and BER faced a temporary interruption during the police operation. One passenger, Thibault Heck, arriving from Zurich, described the situation as “relatively orderly chaos.” He recounted waiting half an hour on his plane before disembarking and then navigating a crowded Terminal 2 with luggage, calling the process “a bit awkward.”
Furthermore, Heck found access to the S-Bahn station blocked due to a heavy police presence. He eventually rented a car-sharing vehicle from the parking garage to reach his destination. Despite the inconvenience, Heck expressed understanding for the robust emergency response. Regular airport operations resumed fully on Friday morning following the hazardous substance alert.
