Fire disrupts flights at Cape Town International Airport

International departures were temporarily suspended and incoming flights diverted after a fire broke out at Cape Town International Airport on Tuesday morning. Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) confirmed that the blaze started on the land side of the airport and was later extinguished. All passengers, staff and visitors were reported safe.

Acsa group spokesperson Ofentse Dijoe said while the fire had been contained, it disrupted key airport systems. “The fire affected network and IT services, including airport Wi-Fi and other essential systems,” said Dijoe. As a precautionary measure, international departures were halted, while some incoming international flights were diverted to alternative airports.

International flights that had already landed were being processed. Passengers travelling domestically were advised to check directly with their airlines and the Acsa mobile app for updated flight information. Reports indicated that the fire started in a VIP lounge and left parts of the airport without power.

[paywall]

Some infrastructure and international airline offices were reportedly damaged, affecting passenger processing services. “Passenger safety remains our highest priority,” Dijoe said, urging travellers to follow instructions from airport security and staff. Acsa said it would continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.

[/paywall]