Watch: The OR Tambo fire did SERIOUS damage to these planes!

Two planes were left scorched and charred on the tarmac of OR Tambo Airport on Monday, as flames scorched part of a runway.

Sep 6, 2022 - 02:24
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Watch: The OR Tambo fire did SERIOUS damage to these planes!

Thankfully, this runway fire at OR Tambo International Airport didn’t become a ‘runaway fire’ on Monday. A swift response from emergency crews kept the damage to a minimum, after a nearby blaze spilled over onto the tarmac. However, these planes couldn’t escape the inferno.

Veld fire causes chaos at SA’s biggest airport

Two separate jets – belonging to respective fleets from SA Express and EC Air – were badly scorched by the fast-moving flames. The charred bodies of each aircraft were caught on film yesterday, and the damage appeared to be wholly extensive.

The veld fire breached the airport’s perimeter, and the alarm was raised almost instantly. The two planes involved in this incident were not in operation – and it has since been confirmed that there are no casualties or deaths to report.

Or tambo airport on flames fire
Two jets were left badly burned by the veld fires on Monday 5 September – Photo: Twitter / Supplied

Is OR Tambo fully operational on Tuesday 6 September?

So, do we have a classic case of all’s well that ends well here? Well, despite officials at OR Tambo declaring all runways open, they are still a little hesitant to put a pin in this one. According to a statement issued late last night, the situation is still under significant surveillance.

“OR Tambo Airport can confirm that a runway closed earlier on Monday 5 September has been reopened, and both available runways are now safe to operate. Fire and rescue teams have managed to successfully extinguish the fire. The situation is now being monitored.”

“We can confirm that two non-operational aircraft – parked at the Denel terminal – were affected by the fire. No loss of life has been reported. Appreciation goes out to workers on the ground and officials from the City of Ekurhuleni, for dispatching a team to assist.” | OR Tambo Airport

Watch: Two planes catch fire at OR Tambo Airport

Jaw-dropping clips of the destruction has been shared online. The footage shows fire crews tackling the blaze, and manoeuvring their way around the stricken planes. This incident hasn’t proved to be too disruptive, though – and OR Tambo Airport is operating ‘as usual’ on Tuesday.