Suggestions




···

Cape Town Airport  Fire Disrupts International Flights

February 24, 2026
by

A fire at Cape Town International Airport on Tuesday caused major disruption to flight operations, forcing the temporary suspension of international departures and the diversion of inbound flights.

The blaze, which broke out near the international terminal in the morning, led to emergency evacuations and interrupted key airport services, including baggage handling and IT systems. Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) confirmed that no injuries were reported.

Spokesperson Ofentse Dijoe said the fire occurred on the landside of the airport and has since been extinguished. “All passengers, staff, and visitors are safe. Passenger safety remains our highest priority,” they added.

Join our WhatsApp Channel

Authorities said the fire affected critical infrastructure, including network and IT services such as airport Wi-Fi, prompting the temporary suspension of international departures and diversion of incoming flights as a precaution.

Domestic operations gradually resumed, while passengers were advised to check with airlines for updates.
Eyewitnesses described smoke filling parts of the terminal and alarms sounding as evacuation procedures were carried out. Some suggested an electrical fault may have caused the blaze, and retail workers inside the terminal were evacuated. The baggage reclaim area was also affected, with luggage processing temporarily halted and passengers redirected through emergency routes at immigration points.

An official notification to airlines confirmed the activation of the Emergency Coordination Centre. “Cape Town International Airport has experienced a fire incident in one of the office wings,” it said. Despite the disruption, the airport remained operational under controlled conditions.
Flights from Johannesburg to Cape Town were briefly interrupted but resumed after emergency teams stabilised the situation.

READ ALSO:

Mugabe’s Son Arrested in South Africa Over Alleged Shooting

South Africa Killing: 22yrs Nigerian Student Murdered on Dashcam

Gunmen Attack Armored Cash Van in Daylight on Southern Italy Highway, Two Detained

The fire comes days after the airport announced plans for a phased infrastructure upgrade. Cape Town International Airport handled over 11 million passengers in 2025, including more than three million international travellers.

+ posts

Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa

Prosper Okoye

Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Related Posts

Acting IGP, Egbetokun, Assumes Office, Promises To Deliver On Internal Security
Previous Story

Presidency Explains IGP Egbetokun Resignation

Next Story

Gunmen Attack Obi’s Convoy in Edo State

Featured Stories

Related Posts

Latest from Africa

Sierra Leone Honours Nigerian Military Officers for Peace Efforts

The President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, has awarded national honours to two senior Nigerian military officers in recognition of their contributions to peace and regional stability. The awards were presented during the 17th Armed Forces Day celebration of the Republic

Mugabe’s Son Arrested in South Africa Over Alleged Shooting

Bellarmine Chatunga, the son of former Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe, has been arrested in South Africa following an alleged shooting at his residence in Johannesburg. Police say the incident took place at his home in the upmarket Hyde Park suburb, where an

Kenya to Begin Administering HIV Prevention Drug

Kenya will begin rolling out a new HIV-prevention drug in March, in what health officials have described as a major step forward in the fight against the virus. The drug, lenacapavir, is taken just twice a year and has been shown in

Gabon Suspends Social Media Amid Rising Unrest

Gabon’s media regulator has ordered the suspension of social media platforms “until further notice,” citing content that it says is fuelling division and unrest in the country. The High Authority for Communication (HAC) announced the move on Tuesday. Spokesman Jean-Claude Mendome said

Tinubu Urges Release of South Sudan Vice-President

President Bola Tinubu has called for the immediate and unconditional release of South Sudan’s First Vice-President, Riek Machar, as part of efforts to revive the country’s stalled peace process. In a message delivered by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Mr Tinubu said Nigeria remained
Acting IGP, Egbetokun, Assumes Office, Promises To Deliver On Internal Security
Previous Story

Presidency Explains IGP Egbetokun Resignation

Next Story

Gunmen Attack Obi’s Convoy in Edo State

Don't Miss

Why Vaccination Campaigns Need To Tailor Peoples’ Concerns - Valérie Traoré

Why Vaccination Campaigns Need To Tailor Peoples’ Concerns – Valérie Traoré

Nyel, an advocacy and public affairs organisation, launched a multimedia

Go Back To School: Teni Slams Peller Over Women’s Health Submission

Singer and Songwriter, Teniola Apata, popularly known as Teni, has