Lightning Strikes Disrupt Nadi Airport's Landing Lights, Causing Flight Diversions
Nadi International Airport's landing lights were temporarily out of operation due to a lightning strike, leading to significant disruptions for several flights. The incident caused a chain reaction of diversions, affecting both domestic and international travelers.
One of the flights affected was Fiji Airways' FJ950, which was initially diverted to Nausori Airport. However, it later returned and successfully landed at Nadi International Airport, according to Flightradar. This was a relief for passengers who had to make an unexpected detour.
Other flights that faced diversions include FJ910, which was redirected to Apia; FJ262 from Port Vila, also sent to Apia; FJ960 from Adelaide, which was diverted to Nausori Airport; FJ274 from Tonga, also sent to Nausori; Virgin Australia's VA179, which was diverted to Noumea; and Fiji Airways' FJ460, which was also sent to Apia.
The disruptions didn't end there. Two departing flights, FJ413 and FJ915, were also affected. Fiji Airways' flight FJ413 to Auckland, scheduled for 8:00 PM, eventually took off at 8:45 PM, while FJ915 to Sydney was canceled. This caused further inconvenience for passengers, especially those with tight schedules.
Fiji Airports, in a statement, revealed that the disruption was caused by a lightning strike between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM that hit a transmitter, resulting in a system failure. The issue was identified during a routine night inspection at 7:15 PM, and the technical response team swiftly restored the lighting system by 8:30 PM.
Fiji Airports has apologized to the affected passengers and assured them that the safety of passengers, their families, airline partners, and flight crews remains their top priority. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining critical infrastructure, especially in the face of natural disasters like lightning strikes.
