Fire at Kolkata airport ATC building on 18 August, ops unaffected
Synopsis
A fire on the second floor of Kolkata airport's ATC building at 4 am on 18 August was contained before it could disrupt flight operations — but the suspected cause, decorative lights left on after Independence Day, raises uncomfortable questions about safety standards inside one of India's busiest aviation hubs.
Key Takeaways
A fire broke out on the second floor of the ATC building at NSCBI Airport, Kolkata , at around 4 am on 18 August .
Firefighters brought the blaze under control quickly; flight operations remained unaffected .
No evacuation of the full ATC building was ordered; core ATC systems and equipment were not damaged.
Authorities suspect Independence Day decorative lights — possibly left on for an extended period or a short circuit in their wiring — may have caused the fire.
A formal investigation is underway; electrical or mechanical faults and maintenance lapses have not been ruled out.
A fire broke out on the second floor of the Air Traffic Control (ATC) building at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport, Kolkata, in the early hours of Tuesday, 18 August, triggering a rapid emergency response. Airport authorities confirmed that flight operations remained unaffected and the situation was fully normalised within a short time.
How the Fire Unfolded
Security personnel on duty first noticed flames emerging from the second floor of the ATC building at approximately 4 am. Within moments, the blaze began spreading to a specific section of the structure, filling the area with thick black smoke. Airport staff raised the alarm immediately, prompting a swift mobilisation of fire-fighting resources.
Fire engines stationed at the airport's adjacent fire station rushed to the scene within minutes. Given the critical nature of the ATC building, additional fire tenders were deployed as a precaution. Firefighters successfully brought the fire under control in a short time, followed by cooling-down operations to eliminate any risk of a pocket fire reigniting.
What Airport Officials Said
An airport official stated: 'The fire was mostly confined to an open area. There has been no major disruption of work or damage to ATC. There was no need to evacuate the entire building as the firefighters were quick to identify the source and contain the fire.'
The official's remarks indicate that critical ATC infrastructure and equipment were not compromised, and no evacuation of the full building was ordered at any point during the incident.
Suspected Cause Under Investigation
Firefighters have reportedly pointed to Independence Day decorations installed on the second floor as a possible trigger. According to preliminary assessments, small decorative lights fitted during celebrations on 15 August may have caused the blaze — either through prolonged operation or a short circuit in the wiring used for the decorations.
However, authorities have not yet ruled out other electrical or mechanical faults, or lapses in maintenance. A formal investigation is underway to determine the precise cause. Notably, the incident raises questions about safety protocols for temporary electrical installations in sensitive aviation infrastructure.
Impact on Flight Operations
Despite the fire occurring in one of the most operationally sensitive buildings at the airport, flight operations at NSCBI Airport were not disrupted. The containment of the fire to a limited area of the second floor, and the absence of damage to core ATC systems, meant that air traffic management continued without interruption throughout the incident.
As the investigation proceeds, airport authorities are expected to review protocols for decorative and temporary electrical fittings across sensitive zones of the airport.
Point of View
Regardless of how swiftly it was contained. Aviation security norms are stringent for a reason: even a minor electrical fault in this zone carries the potential for catastrophic disruption. The speed of the firefighting response is commendable, but the more pressing question is why festive lighting was installed in a restricted, operationally critical structure in the first place, and whether post-event electrical checks were conducted. If the probe confirms a short circuit from decoration wiring, it points to a systemic gap in how temporary installations are managed at sensitive airport infrastructure — a gap that regulators and airport operators across India should examine, not just in Kolkata.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly did the fire break out at Kolkata airport?
The fire broke out on the second floor of the Air Traffic Control (ATC) building at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport in Kolkata. It was contained to a limited section of that floor and did not spread to the rest of the building.
Were flights affected by the Kolkata airport ATC fire?
No. Flight operations at NSCBI Airport were not disrupted. Airport officials confirmed that there was no major damage to ATC systems and air traffic management continued uninterrupted throughout the incident.
What is the suspected cause of the Kolkata ATC building fire?
Firefighters suspect that decorative lights installed on the second floor of the ATC building for Independence Day on 15 August may have caused the fire, either due to prolonged operation or a short circuit in the decoration wiring. A formal investigation is underway and other electrical or mechanical causes have not been ruled out.
When did the fire at Kolkata airport's ATC building occur?
The fire was detected at approximately 4 am on Tuesday, 18 August, when security personnel on duty noticed flames coming from the second floor of the ATC building.
Was anyone injured in the Kolkata airport ATC fire?
The source reporting on the incident does not mention any injuries. The fire was contained quickly and no full building evacuation was ordered, suggesting there were no casualties reported at the time.
