Passengers at Sydney Airport faced delays of up to two hours overnight after the air traffic control tower was earlier evacuated, grounding planes and preventing landings. Firefighters were first called to the tower at 11.40am, following reports that smoke could be detected. Two Fire and Rescue NSW crews attended the scene – assisted by the airport’s in-house fire team – and approximately 20 people were evacuated from the building as a precaution. Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Bryce Jonas told 9news.com.au that crews quickly discovered the source of the smoke. “When crews arrived they searched the tower and found no sign of fire. They then used thermal imaging cameras to detect the source of heat causing the smoke, and found it came from a battery backup system for the tower’s computers that had overheated,” Supt Jonas said. “Crews removed the battery system, took it outside and hit it with a carbon dioxide cylinder. “After that they let everyone back in, all under an hour. No injuries occurred.” The control tower (left) where the evacuation took place. (9News/Brandon Livesay) Planes are currently circling around the airspace waiting for clearance to land. (FlightRadar24) During the evacuation, all control of the aircraft in the airspace above Sydney was handled by Melbourne airport. Planes have now resumed normal operations, with some flights beginning to land and take-off following the delay. Despite that, Virgin Australia told 9News it was forced to delay eight flights and divert five as a result of the incident. Jetstar has had to divert four and delay several more, and its customers - along with Qantas customers - are tonight facing the longest delays. Brandon Livesay told 9news.com.au earlier that passengers were being informed over the airport’s loudspeaker that an “incident” occurred at the tower. "'The airport is still shut down due to an incident at the traffic control tower' is what was coming through the speaker,” said Mr Livesay. Planes remain grounded on the tarmac at Sydney Airport. (Brandon Livesay) “My flight is postponed and looking through the window no planes are moving on the tarmac.”<doc-sep>Smoke from a broken air-conditioning system has caused chaos at Sydney Airport, forcing the evacuation of the air traffic control tower and grounding flights for an hour. Key points: Staff were cleared to return to the tower shortly after 12:30pm Staff were cleared to return to the tower shortly after 12:30pm People on grounded flights told the ABC they could see fire trucks near the tower People on grounded flights told the ABC they could see fire trucks near the tower The captain of a Virgin plane told passengers: "People are stuck in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, you name it." Firefighters cleared about 15 staff to return to the tower at Australia's busiest airport about 12:30pm, about 80 minutes after they were evacuated when a fire alarm sounded. Air Services Australia (ASA) — the national air navigation service provider — said smoke was detected in the building and all flights were grounded. An ASA spokesperson said a failed bearing in an air-conditioning system produced smoke on the ground floor which set off the alarm. About 15 people were evacuated from the tower while ASA firefighters discovered the problem. Fire and Rescue NSW also attended the scene. During the drama, 12 flights were diverted to other airports. ASA said by 12:30pm, aircraft were being allowed to land, "albeit at a slower rate". "Firefighters have cleared staff to return to the Tower," the organisation posted on Twitter. Qantas is warning passengers of delays of up to two hours as they work through the backlog. ( ABC News: Jamie Toomey The captain on one Virgin Australia flight told passengers: "Every aircraft that was not in the air has been told to stay on the ground. "People are stuck in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, you name it." Qantas advised customers to check their flight status online. "Thankfully, the disruption occurred at a quieter part of the day, however, there may be some delays for customers of up to two hours as all airlines work to get back to their normal schedules," a spokeswoman said in a statement. 'We can see fire trucks' Earlier, one passenger on a flight bound for Los Angeles told the ABC he saw fire trucks from the window of his grounded plane. "Virgin has decided to refuel to make use of the time and speed things up once we get going — people onboard are mainly bored and restless with kids crying and complaining," he said. "My wife and others on the right side are watching the tower out the windows. "We can see fire trucks from here but no smoke." At one point passengers were told that all flights were grounded. ( ABC News: Jeremy Fernandez Another man on a flight bound for Bali said the pilot had told passengers "he had not heard from the control tower" and that no planes were taking off or landing. Dean Bentick was on a Tiger flight when the crew announced a smoke alarm had gone off. He said passengers were told all flights were grounded. "Everyone was calm but annoyed, as we were emailed before our flight to say there are no refreshments on this flight to Coffs Harbour," he told the ABC. "They have updated us three times saying 15 [minutes], then 15 then another 20." Mr Bentick said passengers were free to move around the cabin during the wait.<doc-sep>Major delays to flights around Australia after the control tower at Sydney Airport was evacuated following reports of smoke. Major delays to flights around Australia after the control tower at Sydney Airport was evacuated following reports of smoke.... Sydney Airport was brought to its knees today after smoke was detected inside the air control tower. All air traffic controllers were evacuated around 11.40am and firefighters from Air Services Australia and NSW Fire and Rescue rushed to the scene after reports there was a fire inside the tower. An Air Services Australia spokeswoman told news.com.au a full ground stop was initially put in place meaning no planes were landing or taking off. The control tower was back up and running just before 1pm today with arrivals beginning to be processed and planes taking off. “There will be an ongoing impact on the network but we are trying to facilitate as best we can. Passengers are advised to contact their airline for more details about the status of their flight,” an Air Services spokeswoman said. UPDATE 1:19pm - We are fully back to operations at Sydney Tower. Departures are running smoothly. All restrictions lifted. @SydneyAirport — AirservicesAustralia (@AirservicesNews) March 29, 2019 A Sydney Airport spokeswoman said domestic flights were facing delays of up to 60 minutes and international flights were facing delays of up to 80 minutes. NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Bryce Jonas told news.com.au firefighters were called to reports of a “nasty, electrical burning smell” in the air traffic control tower just before 12pm today. “The area has been deemed safe to return and everything is getting back to normal. We’re leaving it in the capable hands of Air Services Australia,” Mr Jonas said. Staff have been given the all clear to return to the tower. A malfunctioning battery pack, attached to the tower’s computer system had started to smoke at 11.40am today on the first level of the building, causing the fire alarm to go off. Twenty people were evacuated from the building as Fire and Rescue used thermal imaging technology to find the source of the smoke. “The internal components of the battery pack system had started to smoke which created that nasty, electrical burning smell,” Mr Jonas said. An electrician has been called to get rid of the smoking battery pack and Fire and Rescue were on scene to test the air quality and make sure the component did not catch alight. Mr Jonas praised the air traffic control workers for evacuating the building. “Regardless of how important their job is of running the airport, human lives are much more important,” he said. “They did the right thing.” Air traffic controllers from Victoria have been assisting Sydney Airport and helping some planes land. Airlines are in the process of notifying its passengers about delays as hundreds more are still sitting on the tarmac and waiting for their planes to take off. Due to the Sydney Air Traffic Control tower being evacuated, there are currently no aircraft flying in and out of Sydney Airport. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. To check your flight status, click here: https://t.co/m479B0nZMc — Virgin Australia (@VirginAustralia) March 29, 2019 Jeremy Scott was one passenger still stuck on a plane. “When you’re on the tarmac @SydneyAirport about to take off for holidays and the pilot announces a fire in the control tower, everyone’s been evacuated and airport in lockdown #badvariance,” Mr Scott wrote on Twitter. In an update, Mr Scott said the pilot had again spoken to his hundreds of passengers and admitted he “hadn’t heard from the control tower”. Andrew Dunkerley, who was scheduled to depart Sydney on at 10.15am flight to Los Angeles with Virgin Australia, said he’d been on the plane for an hour. “[We] haven’t been told much. Smoke apparently in the control tower so it was evacuated. Have been on the plane for about an hour now. Nothing taking off at present but the odd plane landing. “I was meant to take off at 10:15 originally but was delayed before this happened to 11:30 and then we got caught in this.” Mr Dunkerley said kids on his flight were starting to get restless, as his plane continued to be stationed on the tarmac “There’s no update as to a possible departure or anything,” he said. “Some planes are landing but haven’t seen anything take off.” Status screens in Sydney Airport are also informing waiting passengers there are delays. “Flight delayed due to Sydney Tower evacuation,” the screens read. Flight maps showing where planes are near Sydney showed dozens of aircraft sitting and waiting on the tarmac. It has suddenly gone VERY quiet at Sydney Airport. Nothing in or out, diversions everywhere. pic.twitter.com/kSvLZDl3uf — Dr Darren Saunders (@whereisdaz) March 29, 2019 Another flight status map showed some planes being forced to do circles and weaving up and down the NSW coast.<doc-sep>Flights at Sydney Airport were delayed or cancelled on Friday after a back-up battery system for the air traffic control tower overheated, leaving passengers frustrated. Vicki and Paul Wittwer had spent a week in Katoomba enjoying walking in the Blue Mountains and were making their way home to Adelaide when they pulled into the airport car park and found out their 4.30pm Jetstar flight had been cancelled. Paul and Vicki Wittwer arrived to find their flight had been cancelled. Credit:Laura Chung Left with very little information, Mr Wittwer said: “I don’t think I’ll be flying with them again”. Mrs Wittwer said “it’s all part of the adventure” but being told “a bit early” that their flight was cancelled “would have been nicer”.<doc-sep>
The air traffic control tower at Sydney airport was evacuated on Friday morning after smoke was detected, triggering an emergency response and causing major disruption at the international hub. Air Services Australia confirmed around noon that a full ground-stop had been put in place following the detection of smoke, preventing planes from departing or landing. Radar images showed aircraft circling the area and being diverted away from the Mascot airport. “The firefighters are in attendance,” a spokeswoman said. Firefighters later cleared staff to return to the tower and ASA confirmed at around 1.30pm that air traffic control was operating as normal. However, a spokeswoman warned the impact of the evacuation could continue throughout the afternoon. “There will be an ongoing impact on the network but we are trying to facilitate as best we can,” she said in a statement. “Passengers are advised to contact their airline for more details about the status of their flight.” The ASA would provide further information about the cause of the evacuation later in the afternoon, she said. Former Greens senator Scott Ludlam was among affected passengers tweeting about their experiences on Friday as the problems unfolded. “Flight crew just announced the Sydney air traffic control tower has been evacuated,” he wrote from his inbound flight. Others said they were stuck on the tarmac. When you’re on the tarmac @SydneyAirport about to take off for holidays and the pilot announces a fire in the control tower, everyone’s been evacuated and airport in lockdown #FMD #badvariance — Jeremy Scott (@DreamTeamJeremy) March 29, 2019 just chilling in a plane on the tarmac at sydney airport until air traffic control tower gets un-evacuated. @virginaustralia which cupboard is the wine in https://t.co/8vVscakTlw — ayla (@hellosoayla) March 29, 2019 The ASA said any reports that the airport was in “lockdown” during the tower evacuation were incorrect.