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Mexico City Airport Says Lightning Strike Briefly Disrupted Control Tower Operations

Officials report backup communications kept pilots in contact as safety protocols prioritized landings and flights returned to normal that night.

Overview

  • The infrastructure ministry issued NOTAM A7774/25 at 18:04, closing one runway until 20:00 and diverting some flights to alternate airports.
  • Departures were paused from 20:01 to 20:33 to prioritize inbound landings, with takeoffs resuming at 20:33.
  • AFAC, Seneam and the airport administration activated emergency procedures, and authorities say aircraft contact was maintained through redundant systems.
  • President Claudia Sheinbaum said the tower is equipped with lightning rods, described the strike as a rare event, and denied that maintenance lapses were to blame.
  • Commentary reports described additional issues, including erased flight plans that were reentered manually the next morning, localized flooding and reliance on portable radios and light pistols, with an unconfirmed claim of a second strike.