Hajj Flights Delayed Due to Fire
On Thursday, May 9, 2024, at around 5:45 am, a large fire broke out at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport, completely destroying the immigration system. A short circuit at the immigration counter started the fire, which severely disrupted flight operations and resulted in an unexpected surge of passengers and chaos at the airport.
Thankfully, there were no casualties reported. At least six international flights were delayed as a result of the incident, including PIA’s first Hajj flight, which was scheduled to depart at 8:30 am. There were delays in air operations from Karachi to Lahore, as well as flight diversions from Dubai, Jeddah, and Doha to Islamabad.
Two flights en route from Dubai to Lahore were diverted to Islamabad, and four others from Dubai, Jeddah, and Doha landed at the Lahore Airport.
An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the fire and assess the damage to the airport’s infrastructure.
