Aviation Minister commends post-fire recovery efforts at Lahore airport

LAHORE: Following the fire incident, the Aviation Minister conducted a comprehensive inspection of Allama Iqbal Airport’s Terminal building, Lahore, focusing particularly on the areas affected by the recent fire incident, ARY News reported on Thursday.

During his visit, the Aviation Minister, Khawaja Asif, received detailed briefings on the progress of restoration efforts and emphasized the urgent reinstatement of critical systems to facilitate the resumption of international flight operations.

The Minister was informed that domestic operations at the airport had been successfully restored due to the diligent efforts of airport personnel.

However, attention was still being devoted to the restoration of the Integrated Baggage Management System (IBMS) immigration system, which remained a top priority.

A dedicated team and necessary equipment had been dispatched from Islamabad to expedite the restoration process, ensuring that the system would be operational at the earliest.

READ: Hajj flight delayed as fire erupts at Lahore airport

Expressing his concern for the impact of the fire incident on airport operations, Khawaja Asif underscored the importance of promptly reinstating the IBMS system to enable the seamless resumption of international flights.

He issued clear directives to prioritize the restoration efforts, emphasizing the critical role of the IBMS system in ensuring the efficiency and security of airport operations.

During his interactions with airport personnel and representatives from various agencies, the Minister commended their dedication and tireless efforts in responding to the challenges posed by the fire outbreak.

He acknowledged the collective commitment of all stakeholders involved in the recovery process and expressed his appreciation for their exemplary teamwork and professionalism in mitigating the effects of the unfortunate incident.

Lahore Airport Fire Incident:

On the 9th of May 2024, at 05:25 PM, a fire broke out in a section of the international departure lounge at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport, causing disruptions to flight operations.

However, all the staff and passengers were safely evacuated in a timely manner.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) immediately initiated the efforts for the restoration of systems.

Three flights for Hajj departures were manually managed by immigration staff to ensure smooth operation, along with five international arrivals.

In order to guarantee the efficient facilitation of Hajj operations, three flights for Hajj departures were manually managed by immigration staff, in addition to five international arrivals.

Concurrently, domestic flight operations resumed, and efforts to recover the Integrated Border Management System (IBMS) were carried out with utmost urgency.

At 10pm on the same day, international flight operations resumed at Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore, along with all the necessary facilities.

The relevant workforce from the CAA and other agencies remained present at the scene to efficiently handle the backlog of passengers and ensure a seamless experience.