Birmingham Airport is “returning to normality” after flights were grounded and the site was evacuated while police responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle.

In a statement, the airport said: “Following police investigations, operations are now returning to normal. While we apologize for any inconvenience or disruption, the safety of everyone at the airport was our top priority as we dealt with this incident with police partners.”

West Midlands Police said the airport was “partially evacuated” so a vehicle could be searched and assessed. “After a search by the explosive ordnance disposal team, the vehicle was deemed safe. The vehicle is no longer being treated as suspicious. The safety of everyone was our primary concern and there is no major risk to the public,” police said.

“The airport has resumed normal operations with minimal disruption. We would like to thank the public for their patience and support as we deal with this incident.”

Earlier on Wednesday, the airport said its operations were affected and advised all passengers to stay away. Passengers reported being escorted from the airport building to the nearby National Exhibition Center (NEC).

Crowds of people, many with suitcases, found themselves behind police tape as they were removed from the scene.

West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service said it had crews on standby at the airport, while teams from West Midlands Ambulance Service were also present “as a precautionary measure as police deal with reports of a suspicious vehicle”.

The airport later said passengers could return to the airport and advised them to check the latest flight information before traveling.

The departure board showed that several flights scheduled to take off on Wednesday were delayed for more than two hours while the airport was evacuated. Other passengers reported being stuck on the airport runway after planes landed.

Following the latest announcement, passengers said they were slowly being allowed back into the airport building, but further disruption was expected for several hours.