CAAP seeks swift probe over ‘false’ fire alarm

A false fire alarm briefly disrupted operations at the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Air Traffic Management (ATM) Center early Tuesday, temporarily delaying dozens of flights.

Reports said that the alarm was triggered around 1:24 a.m., prompting the activation of emergency protocols and a temporary suspension of aircraft departures.

Normal operations were restored by 2:50 a.m., and all restrictions were fully lifted by 3:16 a.m.

CAAP said that 59 commercial and cargo flights were delayed by approximately 45 minutes, while seven arriving flights were also affected by the brief disruption.

The agency’s director general, Raul del Rosario, disclosed that an internal investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the false alarm and prevent similar incidents.

“We commend our air traffic controllers for their professionalism and quick response, which ensured that flight safety was never compromised and that operations returned to normal immediately,” Del Rosario said.

He added that the incident “underscores our continued commitment to maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety and readiness.”

The agency also assured the public that the investigation is underway to uphold strict aviation safety protocols.