LAHORE: All international flights have been suspended at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International airport after a massive fire damaged the immigration system in the wee hours of Thursday. According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the international flights operation will remain suspended till 3:30 pm.
All the 30 incoming and outgoing international flights until 3:30pm have been cancelled, read the Notam issued by CAA. The CAA, however, clarified that Lahore Airport will keep operating domestic and cargo flights.
According to initial reports, the blaze has partially damaged the immigration system at the airport. Sources said that the process of immigration has stopped.
The passengers were evacuated from the immigration lounge due to smoke.
Meanwhile, Fire Brigade and Rescue 1122 reached the airport to control the fire. The airport authorities said that the cause of the fire is not yet known. Last year, A fire broke out at the Multan International Airport on Monday due to a short circuit.
According to sources, the fire erupted at the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) immigration staff room. The airport authorities, after being informed, called the fire tenders which extinguished the blaze. Soon after breaking out the fire at the FIA’s staff room, the airport administration vacated the international departure and arrival lunges from passengers and staff.
Due to fire incident, flight operation was also suspended at the Multan airport and several flights were diverted to Lahore and Islamabad airports. –Agencies
