Iraq: Baghdad Airport Temporarily Closed Due to "Emergency Technical Malfunction"

SadaNews - The Iraqi Ministry of Transport announced on Wednesday that Baghdad International Airport has been temporarily closed due to an "emergency technical malfunction," denying any existing security threat.

The closure has sparked speculation on social media, but Iraqi officials confirmed that the halt in operations was purely for technical reasons and that maintenance work is underway to restore normalcy.

However, the ministry's spokesperson, Maytham Al-Safi, explained that the closure was a precautionary measure taken immediately and that technical teams began diagnostic and maintenance work according to globally recognized standard procedures, in alignment with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization, prioritizing passenger safety and the continuity of air operations.

The ministry's spokesperson stated that the malfunction necessitated a "immediate precautionary measure," noting that technical teams started "diagnostic and corrective work according to the globally recognized standard procedures," according to the official Iraqi news agency.

He clarified that the airport will be reopened within hours once maintenance work and final inspections are completed.

Al-Safi denied any internal or external security risks behind the closure, stating that reports in this regard are unfounded and urged media outlets to verify information through official channels.