A fire incident at Cape Town International Airport on Tuesday triggered significant disruption to flight operations, forcing the temporary suspension of international departures and diversion of inbound flights before being brought under control.
The blaze, which broke out near the international terminal in the morning, prompted emergency evacuations and interrupted key airport operations, including baggage handling and IT systems, according to Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), which confirmed that no injuries were recorded.
ACSA spokesperson Ofentse Dijoe stated that “fire occurred on the landside of the airport”, adding that “the fire has been extinguished, and all passengers, staff, and visitors are safe. Passenger safety remains our highest priority.”
Authorities explained that the incident affected critical infrastructure, noting that “the fire affected network and IT services, including airport Wi-Fi and other essential systems.” As a result, “as a precautionary measure, international departures have been temporarily suspended, and incoming international flights are being diverted.”
While international operations were disrupted, flights that had already landed continued to be processed, and domestic flight activities gradually resumed, with passengers advised to seek updates directly from airlines and official airport channels.
Eyewitness accounts described scenes of confusion as smoke filled parts of the terminal, triggering alarms and evacuation procedures. One airport staff member suggested the possibility of an electrical fault, while another source confirmed that retail workers within the terminal were evacuated as emergency teams responded.
Further details indicated that sections such as the baggage reclaim area were affected, forcing authorities to halt luggage processing and redirect passengers through emergency routes at immigration points.
An official notification to airlines confirmed the activation of the Emergency Coordination Centre, stating: “Cape Town International Airport has experienced a fire incident in one of the office wings.” Despite the disruption, the airport remained operational under controlled conditions.
Flight operations from Johannesburg to Cape Town experienced brief interruptions but resumed shortly after, as emergency teams worked to stabilise the situation and restore services.
The incident comes days after the airport announced plans for a phased infrastructure upgrade, with Cape Town International Airport having handled over 11 million passengers in 2025, including more than 3 million international travellers.
Ademide Adebayo
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