Peregraf — Iraq’s Ministry of Transport has launched an urgent investigation into the sudden suspension of flights at Baghdad International Airport, ordering the temporary removal of the airport’s director following a technical failure that halted air traffic.
Acting Transport Minister Khaled Shwani on Wednesday directed the formation of a special committee to examine the circumstances surrounding the disruption, which occurred after a power outage affected the airfield’s navigation lighting system.
The ministry said the incident forced authorities to suspend flights as a precautionary safety measure, in line with international aviation protocols. Officials stressed that the decision was taken to protect passengers and ensure operational safety.
Under the minister’s directive, the investigative committee has been given 72 hours to complete its work and submit recommendations aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future. As part of the measures, the airport’s director has been relieved of duties pending the outcome of the inquiry, a move the ministry described as necessary to guarantee transparency and accountability.
Ministry spokesperson Maitham Al-Safi said technical teams were immediately dispatched to diagnose and repair the fault, following established procedures and the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization.
He emphasized that passenger safety remains the ministry’s top priority and dismissed speculation about security threats linked to the outage. Reports circulating on some media platforms suggesting local or international security concerns are unfounded and lack official confirmation, he said.
The incident briefly disrupted air traffic at Iraq’s main aviation hub, highlighting ongoing challenges in infrastructure reliability, even as authorities insist that safety protocols functioned as intended.