A suspected fire involving IT cables at Cape Town International Airport led to a temporary halt in international flights on Tuesday. The Airports Company South Africa restored power by 6.30pm that evening. All passengers and staff remained safe throughout the incident.
Operations at Cape Town International Airport faced disruption on Tuesday due to a fire on the landside of the terminal. The blaze, suspected to involve IT cables, was extinguished without injuries to passengers or staff, though it caused notable effects on infrastructure and airport functions.
Images shared by x.com user @Darth_Martys captured the scene, showing thick bundles of cabling burning inside an exterior structural column, with flames and smoke emerging from the top. Emergency teams responded quickly, applying fire-suppressant foam to the affected areas and nearby zones.
The Airports Company South Africa stated that the fire impacted the airport's network and IT systems, resulting in the loss of WiFi and other critical services. This led to a brief suspension of international flights. By 6.30pm on Tuesday night, power had been fully restored, allowing operations to resume.
The incident highlighted vulnerabilities in airport infrastructure, but officials reported no ongoing threats after the restoration.
