A troubling scene unfolded at Milan's Malpensa Airport today when a man set fire to a check-in area, prompting a partial evacuation of Terminal 1. Video footage circulating on social media captures the intense moments as passengers hurriedly fled the terminal while flames engulfed one of the desks. Witnesses reported seeing the perpetrator attacking digital screens before being subdued and taken into custody.
According to the Lombardy Airports Association, the situation was brought under control swiftly. However, they cautioned travelers about possible delays and flight cancellations at this busy international hub, particularly popular among British tourists. Despite the frightening episode, no injuries have been reported, as confirmed by the Italian daily Corriere della Sera.
Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after the incident started at approximately 11:00 local time (09:00 GMT). Footage verified by BBC Verify showcases the large crowd inside the terminal as the fire burned, with one man bravely attempting to intervene and using a fire extinguisher against the suspect. This intervention appears to have helped detain the assailant, who was soon overwhelmed by other concerned individuals.
As smoke billowed through the terminal, airport firefighters acted quickly to extinguish the flames, but the heavily smoke-filled environment necessitated the evacuation of travelers for safety precautions. A spokesperson reassured that there had not been significant disruptions to air traffic and that operations could resume shortly. Efforts to gather further comments from Malpensa Airport and its management are ongoing.
