Baghdad Airport will return to work within hours

The Iraqi Ministry of Transport announced on Wednesday that Baghdad International Airport was temporarily closed due to an emergency technical defect.

Today, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) quoted ministry spokesman Maytham Al-Safi as saying, “The temporary closure of Baghdad International Airport came as a result of an emergency technical defect, which required taking immediate precautionary measures, and in line with the highest approved safety standards.”

He added, “The specialized technical teams immediately began diagnosis and treatment work in accordance with internationally approved standard procedures, and in accordance with the requirements and standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization, where the highest priority is given to the safety factor as it is the basic pillar of the sustainability and efficiency of air operations.”

He stated that “the airport will be reopened in the next few hours, as soon as maintenance work is completed and final technical checks are carried out,” categorically denying what was circulated by some media platforms and websites regarding the existence of local or international security problems that prevented the reopening of the airport, stressing that “this news is baseless and not based on any approved official source.”

He called on all media outlets and social media users to ensure accuracy in conveying news, and to obtain information from their reliable official sources, represented by the Ministry’s media office and its relevant formations, in a way that contributes to enhancing confidence in accurate information, and reducing the circulation of rumors that may confuse public opinion and affect the smooth flow of travel.

He pointed out that “the Iraqi Airports Administration expresses its deepest apologies to passengers for this technical defect, stressing its firm commitment to providing the best services, and continuing to work on developing infrastructure and raising the efficiency of operational performance, in keeping with global developments in the civil aviation sector, and enhancing Iraq’s position within the international air transport system.”