Lightning Strike at AICM Control Tower Did Not Affect Communication with Aircraft: SICT-Mexico.

• The SICT reported that a lightning strike caused electrical failures and the temporary closure of a runway at the AICM.
• SICT clarified that however, thanks to redundant emergency communication systems, at no time was contact with the aircraft lost.
• Some flights were diverted, but operations were restored following safety protocols.
• The AICM, for its part, attributes the delays to the heavy rains affecting the city, forcing operations to be reduced to a single runway.
• The National Union of Air Traffic Controllers (Sinacta) also points to the rains as the main cause of the delays, although it highlights the great effort of controllers to maintain air safety despite the conditions.

The Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation of Mexico (SICT) explained that, despite the damage recorded at the Mexico City International Airport on September 27, at no time was contact with aircraft lost. The statement by SICT was read as,

Subsequently, lightning struck the control tower again. However, thanks to redundant empowering communication systems, contact with the aircraft was never lost. Between 8:01 p.m. and 8:33 p.m., departures were suspended to give priority to the landings of aircraft in flight; as of 8:33 p.m., normal operations were restored with resumption of takeoffs.

A new incident occurred at Mexico City's International Airport (AICM) this Saturday night, when the frequencies of the control tower of the country's main airport collapsed.

The Airport yesterday experienced multiple flight delays, due to flooding on one of its runways (05 right), which forced it to close. Only runway 05L-23R remained in operation.

However, regarding the failure of ATC Tower communication system, as per a report of El Financiero, citing anonymous Sources, that communications between the AICM control tower were lost as of 7:55 p.m. in Mexico.

As per El Financiero, AeroMexico 551 was in a holding pattern,

El Financiero was able to corroborate that flights bound for the AICM carry out waiting patterns, such as Aeromexico's 551.

At the same time that the failure was registered, the AICM reported that due to the intense rain this afternoon, operations at the airport are carried out only on runway 05L-23R.

Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation, through a statement, indicated that around 6:04 p.m. one of the runways was closed due to adverse weather conditions and an electrical failure in the control tower caused by a lightning strike, a period in which the second runway continued in operations and that required diverting some flights to alternate airports.

They explained that after this, lightning struck the control tower again, however, contact with the aircraft was never lost thanks to the emergency communication systems.

However, between 8:01 p.m. and 8:33 p.m., departures were suspended to prioritize the landings of aircraft in flight."

Finally, the agency added that the Federal Civil Aviation Agency, Navigation Services in Mexican Airspace and the administration of the AICM activated safety and operational continuity protocols "maintaining at all times the operation under safe conditions."

The National Union of Air Traffic Controllers (Sinacta) indicated that, due to the intense rains, operations at the AICM were paralyzed, which caused waiting patterns for aircraft and the sending of flights to alternate air ports.

Despite what Sinacta and AICM indicated, internal air traffic control sources indicated that the failure and delays at the air port are due to the generalized failure of communications.

The Federal Aviation Agency (AFAC), Mexican Airspace Navigation Services (SENEAM) and the AICM administration activated safety and operational continuity protocols, maintaining operation under safe conditions at all times.

The incident has sparked a debate about the resilience of the infrastructure of the country's busiest airport.