Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Fire Breaks Out in Kolkata Airport ATC Building, No Injuries
Very early on Tuesday morning, a fire started at a big airport in the city of Kolkata, in India.
The fire was in the old Air Traffic Control building, where workers help guide planes in the sky.
Security guards saw flames coming out of the building around 4 o'clock in the morning and called for help.
Fire trucks rushed to the scene, and firefighters put the fire out very quickly.
They also sprayed water to cool things down so the fire would not start again.
Luckily, nobody was hurt.
Planes could still take off and land, so travel went on as usual.
Some reports said the fire was on the second floor, while others said it was on the third floor.
People think the fire may have started from small decorative lights that were put up for Independence Day celebrations.
Experts are now investigating to find out exactly what happened.
A fire broke out early Tuesday in the old Air Traffic Control (ATC) building at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata.
Security guards and staff spotted flames around 4 a.m.; reports differ on whether the fire was on the second or third floor.
Firefighters rushed multiple fire tenders to the scene and brought the blaze under control quickly, followed by cooling work.
Airport officials said no injuries were reported and flight operations remained unaffected, though one headline claimed operations were hit.
The fire is suspected to have been caused by a short circuit in decorative lights installed for Independence Day, and an investigation is underway.
- Who
- Firefighters, airport staff and officials at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, including Airport Director Vikram Singh
- What
- A fire broke out in the old Air Traffic Control building and was brought under control quickly, with no injuries or major damage reported
- When
- Around 4 a.m. on Tuesday
- Where
- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (NSCBI), Kolkata
- Why
- Suspected short circuit in decorative lights installed for Independence Day; investigation underway
Some News Reports
Airport Officials
Flight operations impact
Some News Reports
One article's headline reported that flight operations were hit by the fire.
Airport Officials
Airport officials said flight operations remained unaffected and the situation was normal.
Floor where fire broke out
Some News Reports
Two reports said the fire broke out on the second floor of the ATC building.
Airport Officials
Airport Director Vikram Singh said the fire broke out in an open area on the third floor.
- Event
- Fire in old Air Traffic Control building
- Location
- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata
- Time
- Around 4 a.m., Tuesday
- Floor affected
- Second floor per some reports; third floor per Airport Director Vikram Singh
- Injuries
- None reported
- Flight operations
- Unaffected per officials; one headline reported operations hit
- Fire tenders
- Two to three responded depending on report
- Suspected cause
- Short circuit in Independence Day decorative lights
Sources
Fire breaks out in ATC building of Kolkata Airport, no flight disruption
Fire breaks out in old Air Traffic Control building of Kolkata airport, no report of any injury
Fire breaks out on second floor of ATC building at Kolkata airport, flight operations hit
