Dublin Airport Terminal 2 Evacuated After Security Threat, Delays

(DUBLIN, IRELAND) Dublin Airport’s Terminal 2 was evacuated on Saturday afternoon, September 20, 2025, after a major security alert over a suspicious piece of airline luggage. The incident triggered widespread flight delays and heavy traffic around the airport. An Garda Síochána, the Army bomb disposal unit, and the anti‑terrorist Special Detective Unit responded.

Following on‑site checks, the item was contained, moved, and later declared safe. Authorities stood down the alert and Terminal 2 reopened for normal operations later that day. Police said there were no arrests and no detonators found, pushing back on early, inaccurate reports.

Immediate operational impact

The suspension of activity inside Terminal 2—one of the two main hubs at Dublin Airport—had immediate effects across air travel and the road network.

• Departures were paused or delayed and several arrivals were disrupted.
• Passengers and staff were moved to safe holding areas while the incident was assessed.
• Approach roads saw heavy tailbacks as Gardaí redirected traffic and urged drivers to allow extra time.
• Inside the terminal, travelers waited for updates while security teams carried out checks under established protocols.

The evacuation and checks created a bottleneck that rippled through evening departures and overnight operations. Many passengers missed connections, some flights diverted or held for slots, and baggage delivery plus aircraft turnaround times slowed while ground teams worked through backlogs.

Concurrent cyber disruption

Complicating matters, a Europe‑wide cyber attack on Collins Aerospace, a service provider for check‑in and boarding systems used by many airlines, struck the same day.

• Airlines at Dublin Airport and other major hubs (including London Heathrow and Berlin) temporarily switched to manual check‑in and boarding.
• Agents printed boarding passes and checked passports by hand, increasing processing times.
• Airlines used contingency playbooks: manual boarding gate processes, handwritten seat maps, and staggered boarding groups to control crowding.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the overlap between physical security measures and IT outages often multiplies the impact on passengers, even when each disruption is short‑lived.

Key priority throughout: passenger and staff safety. Dublin Airport Authority thanked travelers for their patience and cooperation, and airlines urged customers to check directly with them for schedule updates and rebooking options.

What happened at Terminal 2 (step‑by‑step)

1. The evacuation began on the afternoon of September 20, 2025, after security officers flagged a suspicious luggage item in Terminal 2.
2. Gardaí, the Army bomb squad, and the Special Detective Unit converged, cleared nearby areas, and moved people to safe locations.
3. The bomb disposal unit conducted a preliminary examination, then removed the luggage to an alternate area for further assessment.
4. The item was later deemed safe; police confirmed no arrests and no detonators found.
5. Terminal 2 reopened after the all‑clear and flights resumed gradually, though some knock‑on delays and cancellations continued as schedules normalized.

Passenger experience and special‑needs impacts

The twin disruptions (evacuation + cyber outage) disproportionately affected:

• Families with children
• Older travelers
• Passengers with mobility needs or special assistance requirements

Common problems reported:

• Longer lines and crowded waiting areas
• Missed connections and rebooking dilemmas (some passengers rebooked for the next day or rerouted via alternate cities and rail)
• Delays exiting the airport campus due to heavy traffic and temporary road blocks

Gardaí managed congestion, advising drivers and taxis to avoid the area where possible and to allow extra time. Airport announcements and airline app updates guided people to holding zones and updated gates, and ground staff directed vulnerable passengers to quieter areas or priority lanes once operations resumed.

Operational fallout and next steps

Airport management is reviewing the response sequence to better integrate physical and cyber incident plans. The September 20 disruption highlighted how a security alert and a Europe‑wide IT outage can intersect and slow screening, boarding, and baggage handling.

Aviation security experts emphasize three priorities going forward:

• Rapid identification and safe handling of suspicious items
• Strong coordination between airport police, bomb squads, and operations teams
• Resilient IT backups and staff training for manual fallback procedures

Passenger advocacy groups urged improvements in real‑time communication during evolving events, especially when multiple disruptions occur simultaneously:

• Clearer push alerts via airport and airline apps
• More frequent PA announcements
• On‑the‑spot support for travelers needing medical assistance, accessible seating, or help with young children

Practical advice for travelers

• Build time buffers into tight schedules, especially on weekends or evenings.
• Keep airline apps switched on and refresh flight status often.
• If you need special assistance, notify your airline early and ask airport staff for priority help during disruptions.
• Save receipts for meals, hotels, and transport when delays stretch into late hours; these may be needed for claims.

Official updates and operational notices:

• Dublin Airport’s latest guidance: https://www.dublinairport.com
• Garda press release and formal security updates: https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/press-releases/2025/september/dublin-airport-terminal-2-reopens-following-evacuation-saturday-20th-september-2025.html

These sources confirmed that normal operations resumed later on September 20, with flight schedules stabilizing as airlines worked through the backlog.

Policy, training, and resilience implications

From a policy perspective, the incident underscores the balance airports must manage between quick passenger movement and strict security. The Collins Aerospace outage is expected to prompt airlines and airports across Europe to revisit IT backup strategies and to run more integrated drills that simulate simultaneous physical and digital failures.

Specific focus areas likely to be strengthened:

• Training staff in consistent, error‑minimizing manual procedures (seat assignments, document checks)
• More frequent combined physical/cyber incident exercises
• Improved coordination between immigration/border control teams and operations during terminal evacuations to manage secondary inspections and passport checks

Human and financial consequences

The human side of such events is significant: stress, missed plans, extra costs for meals, accommodation, and alternative travel. Airlines encouraged affected travelers to contact customer service for rebooking and compensation queries. Passengers with non‑refundable onward bookings were advised to obtain proof of disruption from airlines to support claims with rail operators, hotels, or other providers.

Investigations into the origin of the suspicious luggage continue, but officials have not reported any broader threat. The decision to evacuate reflected a safety‑first approach: the bomb squad’s measured steps—contain, relocate, assess—reduced danger while allowing operations to restart once the item was cleared.

Final guidance for travelers through Dublin Airport

• Expect normal service, but stay alert to updates if airlines adjust timetables to clear leftover congestion.
• If flying from Terminal 2: arrive early, keep your phone charged, and check your airline’s app frequently for gate and boarding updates.
• If driving: plan for possible delays near the campus and follow Garda directions if traffic control measures are in place.

Officials said they will review both the Terminal 2 security response and the broader resilience of check‑in and boarding systems. The day’s events were a reminder that modern aviation depends on tightly linked physical and digital processes; preparedness—through drills, clear communication, and strong backups—remains the best way to keep passengers moving and flights on time after a sudden shock.