Sydney Airport control tower incident sparks evacuations and flight delays

Sydney airport was thrown into chaos after an incident at the control tower led to evacuations and flight delays.

Flights were grounded while an incoming plane already airborne was diverted on Sunday.

Frustrated travelers took their anger out online amid early reports that the delays had been caused by a fire.

“On a flight from #Canberra to #Sydney and just been informed by flight staff that there has been a fire in the Sydney airport tower,” one wrote.

Everything is on hold!! I have no idea how long the delays. Am I arriving in Perth today?

Another added: ‘Not a great start to my trip to Tampa. The Gold Coast to Sydney flight has been suspended due to the evacuation of the #sydneyairport control tower.

“It is unlikely that I will make my multiple connections.”

A third person wrote: ‘Control tower at Sydney airport apparently evacuated.

‘Flights landed and diverted. We’d better get comfortable while we wait to find out when we’ll be leaving Ballina.

The incident is understood to have been brought under control later in the morning and flights have resumed.

The incident caused flights to be grounded while incoming planes already airborne were diverted.

A spokesman for Air Services Australia confirmed that the control tower had been evacuated for an hour.

“Airservices Australia’s Sydney Tower was evacuated for an hour this morning due to gas vapors coming through the air conditioning,” it said.

The Aviation Rescue Fire Service ‘Airservices’ was present. No one was injured in the accident.

‘All air traffic management services have already been restored. A ground stop was canceled and a NOTAM (notice to pilots and industry) on hold.

“An international diversion occurred, with a United Airlines plane diverted to Brisbane.”