MMIA Terminal fire: Six injured, flights diverted

MMIA Lagos

A major outbreak of fire yesterday afternoon disrupted flight operations at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

It forced foreign airlines, including British Airways, Lufthansa and Emirates, to divert their inbound flights to Abuja and airports in neighbouring countries.

The inferno, which affected Terminal 1, also led to the temporary evacuation of 12 air traffic controllers stationed at the control tower of the country’s premier aviation gateway.

A major outbreak of fire yesterday afternoon disrupted flight operations at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

It forced foreign airlines, including British Airways, Lufthansa and Emirates, to divert their inbound flights to Abuja and airports in neighbouring countries.

The inferno, which affected Terminal 1, also led to the temporary evacuation of 12 air traffic controllers stationed at the control tower of the country’s premier aviation gateway.

She said the authority immediately activated its emergency response plan to prioritise the safety of lives and critical infrastructure. Kuku said nobody died although six people sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical attention. She described their condition as stable. The MD said the fire caused significant disruption to airport operations, prompting FAAN to set up a temporary departure hall and deploy a remote control tower to minimise the impact on flight movements and passenger processing.

Kuku said: “Despite the magnitude of the incident, our emergency response mechanisms worked as designed.

“We ensured that everyone within the affected areas was safely evacuated.”

According to her, FAAN, in collaboration with relevant emergency and security agencies, is working round the clock to fully bring the situation under control and restore normal operations at the terminal.