Rome’s Ciampino airport closed after three WW2 bombs found

At the moment, the airport is expected to remain closed until at least 6pm today as bomb disposal teams work to remove the explosives.

Flights scheduled to and from Ciampino airport may be delayed or diverted to or from Fiumicino, Rome's other international airport, ADR said.

Some 750 passengers as well as airport workers have been evacuated from the terminal building.

Passengers waiting outside the airport terminal building for updates say they were not initially told of the reason for the evacuation.

“I was eating my lunch inside the man building when the restaurant manager said everyone had to leave,” Emmanuele Reale, a rescue helicopter technican stationed at the airport, told The Local.

“People just left their food and went outside. There was no panic.”

“Our helicopters are grounded too. We can't go out for rescue,” he said.

One airport employee, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Local the bombs were discovered during maintenence work at one of the gates.

“Now they need to check the whole area in case there are any more,” he said.

ADR is advising passengers to contact their airline for detailed information about their flights.

It said further updates on the closure will be provided throughout the day via the ADR website, app and social networks.