Turkey airport grounds ALL flights as out of control wildfire traps tourists

An airport in Turkey has grounded all flights as fire crews work to battle a wildfire raging out of control.

No flights are departing or taking off from Adnan Menderes Airport, which serves the coastal city of Izmir. The airport's departure board shows all flights due to leave this evening have been either suspended or cancelled. They include a Sun Express Airlines flight that was due to depart from London Stansted at 7.20pm local time (5.20pm BTS), as well as flights to Istanbul, Copenhagen in Denmark, Cologne in Germany and Sofia in Bulgaria. Currently, it is not clear when flights will resume.

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The arrivals board also shows all flights have either been suspended or cancelled. They include national flights from other parts of Turkey as well as international flights from the likes of Newcastle, Brussels and Dublin.

Some inbound flights were diverted to nearby airports, reported Turkiye Today. According to the publication, officials said operations are expected to resume once the fire is brought under control.

The fire broke out on the borders of Menderes and Seferihisar districts of Izmir today. Photos taken in the area show huge flames rising as the fire spreads. Firefighters are trying to battle the blaze by air and land.

Firefighting teams including two planes, one helicopter, three water tenders, and a water supply vehicle from the Izmir Regional Directorate of Forestry were dispatched to the area. They were also joined by the municipal fire brigade. The cause of the fire remains unknown at this stage.

According to reports in Turkish media, 455 families were evacuated this weekend due to another wildfire which broke out on the outskirts of Izmir and quickly spread to the forest. There were also other fires in the area earlier this week which disrupted travel, prompted evacuations, and triggered a broad emergency response.

The General Directorate of Forestry said at least eight major fires occurred in Turkey between June 24 and June 25 - many of them linked to agricultural activity, improper waste disposal, or other human-related causes.

The most critical fire broke out at 12.30pm on June 25 in a forested area of Izmir's Aliağa district. Flames spread quickly due to strong winds, threatening residential areas, reports say.

The Mirror has contacted Adnan Menderes Airport for comment.