Mumbai Airport Metro Station Fire Disrupts Aqua Line-3 Services

Smoke spreads through underground station at CSMIA T2; commuters evacuated safely

A fire at the underground metro station connected to Terminal-2 of Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport triggered panic on Wednesday evening after thick smoke filled parts of the station premises, forcing authorities to evacuate passengers and temporarily suspend metro movement on a key stretch of the Aqua Line-3 corridor.

The incident was reported around 4:10 pm at the airport station in Andheri East. According to officials, the fire originated inside a technical room at the underground metro facility. Emergency teams, including firefighters and metro staff, rushed to the spot soon after smoke was detected.

No injuries were reported, and all passengers and staff present at the station were evacuated safely.

Services Briefly Hit

Metro services on Mumbai Metro Aqua Line-3 were affected between Aarey JVLR and Cuffe Parade for some time after the incident. Entry to the airport station was temporarily restricted as rescue and ventilation work continued underground.

Officials said visibility inside parts of the station was reduced due to smoke accumulation. Fire personnel reportedly used breathing apparatus while entering the affected zone during the operation.

The station, located beneath the busy airport terminal area, is part of the underground corridor developed by Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL).

Smoke Across Corridors

Videos shared on social media showed smoke spreading through station corridors and near entry points, with commuters being guided out by staff and security personnel. The entrance to the metro station was later shut as a precautionary measure.

MMRCL, in an official statement, described the episode as a “minor smoke incident” and said the situation was brought under control quickly.

“Today, a minor smoke incident occurred at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA)-T2 station, which was immediately brought under control by the team present on the spot,” the corporation said.

Officials added that a detailed technical inspection would be carried out before normal operations resume completely.

Cause Yet Unclear

Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the fire. Initial assessments suggest the blaze remained confined to the technical area of the station and did not spread to passenger sections directly.

A municipal official familiar with the matter said the source of ignition is still being investigated. Technical experts from the metro corporation and fire department are expected to examine electrical systems and safety infrastructure inside the underground facility.

The scale of the damage has also not been officially disclosed so far.

Second Airport Fire In A Month

The latest incident comes less than a month after another fire scare at Mumbai airport.

On April 9, a fire broke out at Terminal-1 of the airport during the evening hours. Fire brigade teams managed to contain the blaze quickly, and no casualties were reported in that incident either.

Preliminary findings at the time pointed to a possible short circuit in the power house area on the ground floor. Electrical wiring, cable trays and panel installations were damaged in the fire.

Wednesday’s incident has again raised concerns around fire safety preparedness in high-footfall transport infrastructure, especially within underground transit corridors linked to major public hubs like airports.

Passenger Safety Measures

According to officials, emergency response systems at the metro station functioned as intended, helping staff isolate the affected section and evacuate commuters without chaos.

Commuters present during the incident said announcements were made quickly after smoke began spreading inside the station area. Some passengers were seen waiting outside the premises as authorities carried out ventilation work.

Services on the affected section were later being restored in phases after safety checks.

Investigation Underway

Authorities are now expected to review technical systems at the airport metro station, including ventilation, electrical equipment and emergency fire response protocols.

The Mumbai airport metro station fire also comes at a time when underground connectivity projects in the city are witnessing increased commuter traffic. Officials said further updates would be shared once the investigation into the cause of the fire is completed.