MIA operations suspended for 25 minutes during blackout

Last night, Malta International Airport experienced some technical difficulties with its generators during the nationwide power outage.

In a statement, MIA said yesterday’s nationwide blackout coincided with technical problems in the system, forcing MIA to suspend apron and runway operations.

“These operations were suspended for not more than 25 minutes between 21.30 and 21.55,” a spokeswoman for MIA said.

Malta International Airport has a system of generators in place to allow it to provide emergency lighting in the event of a power cut. But technical problems to the system materialized.

Malta Air Traffic Services also opted to divert incoming flights to Catania and Palermo for approximately an hour and 45 minutes between 22.45 and 01.30 as a precautionary measure to ensure safety within the aerodrome.

“The terminal remained operational at all times with acceptable limitations,” MIA said. “The matter was resolved last night and all activities at the airport are fully operational. We are implementing measures to avoid similar occurrences in the future and apologise for the inconvenience caused.”

Last night’s blackout left many residents with no other option than to either sleep on the roof, congregate at the corner of their streets or flock to open bars and restaurants who kept on running with electric generators.