Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport has resumed its immigration services following a complete restoration of the IBMs System, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
According to sources, the system remained dysfunctional for 11 hours and 30 minutes, causing significant delays and cancellations of international flights.
After the restoration of the system, two international flights have successfully landed, and the check-in process for departing flights has commenced without further issues.
The airport's swift recovery efforts ensured that flights to Jeddah (Flight PA 470) and Sharjah (Air Blue Flight PA 412) proceeded with check-in operations shortly after the system's restoration.
The incident, which caused a temporary halt in the airport's bustling activity, has now been resolved, and normal operations have resumed.
Earlier, 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.
Quoting its sources, the channel reported that the immigration system was badly affected by the fire, which broke out at 5:15 AM.
The smoke alarm did not ring, and 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.
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.
Reporter: Saeed Ahmed Saeed