ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Seven Kuwaiti passenger planes on Thursday made emergency landings at Iraq's southern Basra airport, the second similar incident in less than a week, Iraq's transport ministry announced.
“Basra International Airport received seven Kuwaiti aircraft today that made emergency landings due to severe weather conditions in Kuwait, which was dense fog that reduced horizontal visibility and prevented aircraft from landing," according to a statement from Iraq's transport ministry.
More than a dozen flight operations at Kuwait International Airport have reportedly been delayed due to adverse weather conditions.
“The aircraft landings were conducted in accordance with the second freedom of the air and as technical stops, and the flights and passengers were received smoothly alongside scheduled flights, thanks to coordination and joint efforts among the airport’s departments,” the statement detailed.
The ministry said the Basra international airport "continues to operate with high efficiency and is fully prepared to handle any emergency situation, ensuring the safety of passengers and the uninterrupted continuation of air traffic."
Thursday's emergency landings came a few days after the Basra airport received another nine Kuwaiti aircraft for the very same reasons.
The Iraqi Airports Authority has said airports across the country are prepared to handle both scheduled and emergency landings.