Earthquake in Myanmar brings down Naypidaw Airport control tower: What We Know
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A 7.7-magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale struck Myanmar and surrounding areas on Friday, March 28, 2025, causing significant damage and resulting in the collapse of the air traffic control (ATC) tower at Naypyidaw International Airport (IATA: NYT, ICAO: VNT), the country’s administrative capital. Initial reports indicate loss of life among aviation personnel who were inside the tower.
The quake, recorded at a depth of 10 km, strongly impacted several cities in Myanmar, with effects extending as far as Thailand. In Bangkok, the Thai capital, a building under construction collapsed, causing at least one fatality and several injuries. In Myanmar, the city of Mandalay, the country’s second-largest, suffered extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure, a situation worsened by strong aftershocks.
The most severe consequence reported so far for civil aviation is the total collapse of the ATC tower in Naypyidaw (VNT). News sources covering the event have confirmed the collapse. Initial reports indicate that at least five employees lost their lives in the incident.
At Mandalay International Airport (MDL), the second-busiest in the country, passengers were evacuated to the tarmac following emergency protocols. Fortunately, despite initial panic, no injuries were reported at that terminal.
Regarding the overall status of air operations, one source suggested that flights began to resume in Myanmar during the late afternoon and evening on Friday. However, clarification is still needed on how operations are being handled in Naypyidaw following the destruction of its main control tower—whether via temporary facilities, limited visual flight rules (VFR) procedures, or if the resumption mainly refers to other airports in the country.
Casualty Figures and General Damage
Total casualty numbers across the region remain preliminary, and reports vary widely by source. Some early reports mention at least 16 deaths in Myanmar, while other local sources indicated higher figures, with more than 140 fatalities and over 1,400 injuries, particularly in connection with the epicenter near Mandalay. Numbers are expected to be updated as rescue and assessment operations continue. In addition to the airport and buildings, critical infrastructure such as the Sinthay Dam also reportedly collapsed.
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