Fire crews respond to FlySafair aircraft incident at Cape Town International

Fire and rescue crews rushed to a FlySafair aircraft at Cape Town International Airport on Monday morning after ground handling equipment struck the plane, resulting in a fuel spill on the apron. Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) confirmed that the incident happened at about 11:06am on the airside of the airport. “Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) can confirm that an airside ground handling incident occurred at Cape Town International Airport at approximately 11h06 today involving ground support equipment and an aircraft on the apron,” said ACSA spokesperson Ofentse Dijoe.

The ground handler equipment (staircase) collided with a stationary aircraft, causing a fuel spill on the apron. Emergency teams responded immediately, surrounding the aircraft and dousing the area with flame-retardant foam. “The emergency response teams attended immediately, and the situation is being managed and closely monitored.

The cause of the incident is currently under investigation,” said Dijoe. Despite the dramatic scenes, airport operations were not disrupted. “There have been no injuries reported, however, the staircase operator is being assessed, and flight operations continue.

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The safety of passengers, staff and all airport users remains our top priority,” she said. The incident comes as Cape Town International Airport experiences increased traffic, with holidaymakers arriving in the Mother City for the Easter break and others returning home. Last month, emergency protocols were also activated at the airport following reports of a fire.

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