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The Sydney skyline - Source: Reuters
A suspected gas leak at Sydney Airport forced the evacuation of 900 people and the treatment of 27 who suffered nausea and burning to the throat.
Fire, police and ambulance crews rushed to the departure area of the airport's international terminal at about 7.30pm (AEDT) on Friday following reports of a possible gas leak.
All of the people affected were present at counter C of departures and consisted of about 18 airline staff, several passengers checking in and two police officers who came to their rescue.
NSW Ambulance district manager Daniel Ferguson said one of the people suffered a drop in blood pressure and may have fainted.
"The four teams of paramedics assessed and treated 27 people who had irritation to the back of their throat and tongue and some had a cough and felt nauseous," Ferguson told reporters at the airport.
All of the people were treated and chose not to go to hospital.
Around the same time, 900 people were evacuated from adjacent check-in counters D to K and ushered to other desks in the departures terminal for processing.
NSW Fire Brigades assistant commissioner Steven Pearce said crews from six fire stations attended, including a hazardous materials team that failed to locate the source of the leak.
"During the tests, the entire terminal was interrogated for gas odours and at this stage every test was proven negative," Asst Com Pearce told reporters.
"This is not unusual, particularly in a building of such large complexity."
"At the end of the day, we may not be able to determine exactly what was the gas odour."
He expected the results of further tests early Saturday morning to return negative results.
Police superintendent Karen McCarthy said disruptions to airport operations were minimal and at no time was there a security threat.
"My understanding ... is that there were no delays to flights as a result of the incident," McCarthy told reporters.
"My expectation is that the terminal here will open on time in the morning and be able to resume business."
