PASSENGERS FLYING from Dundee Airport to London faced delays yesterday following a toxic substance scare at London City airport.

A total of 19 commuters on the 5176 CityJet for Air France flight from Dundee were forced to wait 20 minutes before boarding after the London airport was evacuated for two hours.

More than 2000 people, including all passengers and staff, were ordered out of the terminal when a suspect package was discovered in the airport toilets.

Outgoing flights were suspended as emergency services sealed off the area and incoming planes were diverted to other local airports.

The package was found just after 3pm, at the airport’s busiest time of the day.

Experts who examined the suspicious substance deemed it to be non-toxic, giving the terminal building the all-clear to re-open two hours later.

The incident is not thought to have been terrorist-related.

A travel notice was posted on the London City website last night informing passengers of the situation.

It said, “Due to the attendance of the emergency services earlier today, London City Airport’s terminal was evacuated as a precautionary measure.

“The emergency services have assessed the situation and the airport is now open. Passengers are advised to contact their airline before travelling.”

Only one flight from Dundee Airport was affected by the incident and passengers faced a short delay to their journey.

A spokesman for Dundee Airport said, “Flight 5176 which was scheduled to depart at 5.40pm was delayed by only 20 minutes.

“All of the other flights which flew out earlier in the day were unaffected.”