On the morning of January 29, 2023, Sydney’s Kingsford Smith International Airport’s (SYD) control tower was evacuated due to gas fumes leaking through the tower’s air conditioning system.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, a Fire and Rescue New South Wales agency vehicle was on the scene for around 10 minutes due to a “small leak of refrigerant gas.”
Two international flights had to be diverted, and the tower was evacuated for an hour despite no injuries or fatalities being reported:
Brisbane International Airport was the new destination for United Airlines flight UA863 from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Sydney Airport (SYD) (BNE)
Canberra Airport was the final stop on United Airlines flight UA101 from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to SYD Airport (CBR).
“No one was harmed in the incident,” Airservices Australia said in a statement seen by local media and issued shortly before 09:00 local time on January 29, 2023.
“All air traffic management services have now been restored,” the airport service provider further said.
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