Flights halted at Ercan airport as control tower cooling system fails

Ercan Airport faced significant disruptions today after the cooling systems in the air traffic control tower completely failed, forcing a temporary halt to flights due to extreme heat. 

Chairman of the Air Traffic Controllers’ Union (HTKS), Cem Kapısız, confirmed the suspension of flights, citing dangerous working conditions as temperatures inside the tower soared above 40 degrees Celsius.

Speaking to YENİDÜZEN, Kapısız explained that the complete breakdown of the tower’s cooling systems rendered it impossible for controllers to continue their duties safely. “The faulty equipment hasn’t been replaced. Now that everything has broken down, we’re experiencing a major crisis,” he said, criticizing authorities for failing to take necessary maintenance and renewal steps.

Kapısız noted that staff members who felt unwell were sent home, while others attempted to continue providing limited services intermittently. He revealed that the final remaining operational cooling unit in the control tower failed today, causing the indoor temperature to spike and leading to two personnel falling ill.

In a statement to Kıbrıs Postası, Kapısız detailed that three cooling units had already been out of service for some time, leaving the tower reliant on a single unit that also failed earlier today. “By 2:00 PM, personnel tried to keep working, but they couldn’t endure the heat any longer and became sick,” he said.

Although technical teams managed to partially repair the cooling systems, Kapısız emphasized that the fix was insufficient to keep the tower at a safe temperature. He described the improvised procedures used to land planes under such conditions as “absurd,” highlighting the severity of the situation.

Kapısız stated that air traffic returned to normal only after sunset when cooler temperatures allowed controllers to resume operations. However, he warned of continued uncertainty about tomorrow’s operations, saying that discussions on alternative cooling measures would take place. “This is not how aviation should be conducted,” he added, warning that unless permanent solutions are implemented, similar breakdowns are likely to recur.