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World / Asia

Myanmar airport shut after rebel drone attack: security sources

Published: 11 Sep 2026 - 11:04 am | Last Updated: 11 Sep 2026 - 11:06 am
(FILES) A Myanmar Airways International passenger plane is parked at the Mandalay International Airport in Mandalay on September 18, 2025.  (Photo by Sai Aung MAIN / AFP)

(FILES) A Myanmar Airways International passenger plane is parked at the Mandalay International Airport in Mandalay on September 18, 2025. (Photo by Sai Aung MAIN / AFP)

AFP

Yangon, Myanmar: Myanmar's second-busiest airport was closed for two days on Friday, security sources told AFP, after the  government accused rebels of attacking it with drones.

Mandalay airport is an international and domestic travel hub in central Myanmar, but civilian air raid warning groups also identify it as a runway for military jets launching sorties.

Six "suicide drones" attacked it on Thursday afternoon, the military-backed government said in a statement, causing no casualties but disrupting flight schedules.

"Mandalay airport is closed for today and tomorrow," a security source told AFP on Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media.

"The attack happened some distance from the airport building, but the airport is closed protectively," they said.

A second security officer working at another Myanmar airport, also requesting anonymity, confirmed that the Mandalay facility would be "closed for maintenance" until Sunday.