Lightning Strike Cripples Nadi International Airport Runway Lights, Forcing Fiji Airways Diversions

Heavy thunderstorms and intense lightning activity caused major operational disruptions at Nadi International Airport (NADI) last night. The severe weather across the Nadi area led to a temporary failure of the runway edge lights on both runways. This issue forced the diversion of several international flights, including multiple Fiji Airways flight diversions, as a precautionary safety measure.

Incident and Response Timeline

Fiji Airports reported that the lightning strike is believed to have occurred between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM local time. The system failure was later identified during a routine start-of-night inspection at approximately 7:15 PM. The airport operator’s technical response team acted swiftly to address the damage. Full functionality of the runway lighting system was restored by 8:30 PM.

Impact on Flight Operations

The temporary closure of the primary airport necessitated immediate action from airlines. A number of inbound flights had to be diverted in line with international aviation safety standards.

• Fiji Airways services FJ950, FJ960, and FJ274 were diverted to Nausori International Airport (SUV).
• Flight FJ910 was diverted to Faleolo International Airport (APW) in Samoa.
• Other carriers were also affected, including a Virgin Australia flight (VA179) diverted to Noumea.

Two departing flights also faced significant disruptions. Fiji Airways flight FJ413, initially scheduled for 8:00 PM, departed at 8:45 PM. Additionally, flight FJ915 to Sydney was cancelled due to the strict Sydney curfew cancellation policy.

Aviation Safety and Regulatory Context

The decision to divert flights was mandatory under global safety regulations. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) mandates that all runways licensed for night operations must have lighting that clearly defines the runway’s extent. This includes the vital runway edge lights that were affected by the lightning strike disruption. Without these visual aids, commercial passenger flights are prohibited from landing at night. This ensures the absolute safety of passengers and crew, which remains the industry's top priority.

Fiji Airways acknowledged the anxiety and inconvenience caused by the weather-related disruptions. They stressed that passenger safety, along with that of their airline partners and crews, was their absolute priority. The airline and Fiji Airports thanked the passengers for their patience and understanding during the unforeseen event. Such incidents highlight the critical role of robust infrastructure and swift Fiji Airports technical response in maintaining air traffic flow, a key topic in commercial aviation news.

• The lightning strike impacted a transmitter, causing the system failure.
• The technical team restored full lighting functionality in approximately 75 minutes.
• The resulting operational backlog caused continued delays into the following day.

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