A fire at Cape Town Airport has caused significant travel disruptions, leading to a halt in international departures
A fire outbreak at Cape Town airport has disrupted international flights, necessitated evacuations, and impacted IT systems, while authorities have confirmed safety measures are in place.
A fire incident at Cape Town International Airport on Tuesday caused considerable disruption to flight operations, leading to the temporary suspension of international departures and the diversion of inbound flights before it was brought under control.
A fire erupted near the international terminal in the morning, leading to emergency evacuations and disrupting essential airport operations, such as baggage handling and IT systems. Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) confirmed that there were no reported injuries.
Ofentse Dijoe, spokesperson for ACSA, reported that “a fire occurred on the landside of the airport,” and further noted that “the fire has been extinguished, and all passengers, staff, and visitors are safe.” Ensuring the safety of our passengers is our utmost concern.
Officials clarified that the event impacted vital infrastructure, stating that “the fire disrupted network and IT services, including airport Wi-Fi and other crucial systems.” Consequently, “as a precautionary measure, international departures have been temporarily suspended, and incoming international flights are being diverted.”
Although international operations faced interruptions, flights that had already arrived were still being processed, and domestic flight activities slowly began to restart. Passengers were encouraged to check for updates directly from airlines and official airport sources.
Eyewitness accounts depicted moments of chaos as smoke enveloped sections of the terminal, prompting alarms and evacuation protocols. One airport staff member proposed the idea of an electrical fault, while another source verified that retail workers in the terminal were evacuated as emergency teams arrived to address the situation.
Additional information revealed that areas like the baggage reclaim zone were impacted, leading authorities to suspend luggage processing and reroute passengers through emergency pathways at immigration checkpoints.
An official notification to airlines has confirmed the activation of the Emergency Coordination Centre, stating: “Cape Town International Airport has experienced a fire incident in one of the office wings.” In spite of the disruption, the airport continued to function under managed conditions.
Flight operations from Johannesburg to Cape Town faced temporary interruptions but quickly resumed, as emergency teams worked diligently to stabilize the situation and restore services.
The incident follows the airport’s recent announcement regarding a phased infrastructure upgrade, with Cape Town International Airport having accommodated over 11 million passengers in 2025, including upwards of 3 million international travellers.
