Istanbul Ataturk airport cargo fire under control, says airport chief

Istanbul Ataturk airport’s management claims that the huge fire which broke out at the cargo terminal today has been brought under control, with no casualties.

The fire started at 15:30 in cargo terminal C at Ataturk, the Turkish city’s main airport. There are indications that the source of the fire was electrical.

Ground-handling company Havas is among the firms located in the buildings affected. The fire spread to neighbouring cargo terminals housing companies including Celebi Handling and Sistem Logistik.

Ataturk Airport general manager Irfan Balta says: “We have taken control of the fire. Air traffic is continuing and there should be little delay.”

Several Soviet-built cargo transport aircraft parked around the cargo terminal have been removed from the vicinity and relocated to a safe area.

Turkish authorities have been using two Bombardier CL-215 firefighting aircraft to bring the fire under control similar to the one pictured below.