Auckland Airport bomb scare briefly forces flight suspension

A threat was made at a facility near Auckland Airport. Photo / File

Police have completed a search near the Auckland Airport domestic terminal after a bomb threat shut down roads and grounded flights this morning.

Police said just after 11am that they had finished a search of the area and were confident there was no risk to the public.

"No objects of concern were located," Inspector Joseph Hunter, of Counties Manukau Police, said.

"Police are satisfied the threat was not a legitimate one."

Specialist groups - including military and aviation security personnel - were brought in and had been at the scene since about 8am.

A building near the terminal was evacuated just before 9am and police suspended flights.

By 9.13am, authorities had cleared the runway to open and flights were resumed.

Police officers earlier responded to "a threat" - understood to be a bomb scare.

Update: @nzpolice have now cleared the runway to open and all flights have resumed. pic.twitter.com/uegZnog3aG

— Auckland Airport (@AKL_Airport) October 13, 2019

Police had suspended all flights to "ensure the safety and security of everyone on Auckland Airport's precinct".

A Defence Force spokesperson confirmed a bomb squad was at the scene.

"The New Zealand Defence Force can confirm that the NZDF Explosive Ordnance Disposal team has responded to a request for assistance from New Zealand Police at Auckland Airport. No further details will be released."

Members of the public heading to the domestic terminal were told to use Tom Pearce Drive instead.

Motorists were also warned to expect delays.

"Police appreciate motorists' co-operation ahead of time as we conduct those inquiries at the location.''

Mayank Batra, an operations controller at Swissport Executive Aviation across the road, said the Air New Zealand Airport Campus was being evacuated.

His colleagues were not being allowed down Geoffrey Roberts Rd. Police were telling them there was a bomb threat in the campus carpark.

Batra could see 6-7 police cars and a fire truck. His building was also being evacuated.