Fire truck being taken to Fuvahmulah from Addu following flight suspension

Flights to a regional airport in the Maldives have been temporarily suspended following a fire truck breakdown on the runway, in line with safety regulations set by the Civil Aviation Authority.

The incident occurred yesterday, and as a result, Fuvahmulah Airport has halted all flight operations today. The Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), which now oversees regional airport operations, confirmed the temporary suspension and outlined ongoing efforts to resolve the issue. As a temporary solution, a fire truck is being transported from Addu Airport to address the equipment shortage.

According to MACL Managing Director Ibrahim Shareef, the fire truck experienced an engine failure while on the runway, rendering it inoperable. A technical team from MACL was dispatched to Fuvahmulah immediately to assess and address the problem.

The fire truck is currently being transported by landing craft to Fuvahmulah later tonight, MACL said.

Shareef also noted that the now defunct Regional Airports Company has been officially dissolved, and its responsibilities have been transferred to MACL. The company has begun inspecting the condition of ground handling and firefighting equipment across regional airports.

"Nothing has been maintained. We’ve initiated emergency procurement procedures, but firefighting equipment often requires significant customization," said Shareef.

He added that procurement efforts are already underway, following the transfer of management responsibilities to MACL.