The entire building of Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport was vacated and all incoming as well as outgoing flights, including the first Hajj flight, were delayed after a fire broke out at the airport’s lounge which later also engulfed the immigration area early Thursday morning, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Quoting its sources, the channel reported that the immigration system was badly affected by the fire, which broke out at 5:15 AM. 

Sources disclosed that the smoke alarm did not ring, while the Aviation Fire Brigade staff reached the site an hour after it learnt about the blaze. 

Following the fire, stench spread in the entire building. 

The pilgrims, who were waiting to board the first Hajj flight, PK-717, bound for Medina were made to vacate the lounge and stand outside.  

SereneAir’s Jeddah to Lahore flight ER-822 was not allowed to land forcing the plane to keep hovering over the airport.

https://twitter.com/ghulamabbasshah/status/1788404449255297359

Similarly, Qatar Airway’s flight from Doha QR-628 and Abu Dhabi to Lahore flight PK-178 were also denied landing.

However, after hectic efforts, firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze.

According to the preliminary investigation, the fire was the result of a short-circuit, while on the other hand, the Civil Aviation Authority has constituted a team to further probe the incident.   

On the other hand, taking notice of the incident, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has sought a report from the concerned officials.

The minister has also ordered a complete investigation in order to ascertain the real causes of the fire.

He has ordered making the immigration counter functional again so that the passengers do not face any inconvenience.

Reporters: Saeed Ahmad Saeed and Ali Ramay