Visas and Immigration

Fire Outbreak Grounds Flights at Cape Town International Airport

The fire outbreak at the Cape Town International Airport comes just a day after a wing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport was engulfed with fire

Emmanuel Eze

A fire at Cape Town International Airport on Tuesday disrupted international and domestic flights, though the state company that manages South Africa’s airports said the fire had been extinguished.

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) said in a statement that, as a precaution, international departures had been temporarily suspended and incoming international flights were being diverted. Some domestic flights were delayed, airlines told passengers.

“Cape Town International Airport confirms that a fire occurred on the landside of the airport. The fire has been extinguished, and all passengers, staff, and visitors are safe,” ACSA’s statement said.

“The fire affected network and IT services, including airport Wi-Fi and other essential systems.” The Cape Town Airport is the second-busiest in South Africa.

Spate of Airport Fire Outbreaks in Africa

The fire outbreak at the Cape Town International Airport comes just a day after a wing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport was engulfed with fire stemming from electrical fault.

The blaze originated from the server room/old terminal structure and spread toward upper floors before being largely contained by firefighting teams. Emergency response efforts included evacuation and rescue operations; at least 18 people were pulled to safety, and several others sustained minor injuries. Three international flights (including Emirates, British Airways and Lufthansa services) were diverted.

on November 17, 2025, An Embraer ERJ‑145 operated by AirJet Angola veered off the runway on landing at Kolwezi Airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo and subsequently caught fire. All 29 people on board evacuated safely before the fire consumed much of the fuselage.