The Murtala Muhammed International Airport Terminal One, Nigeria’s busiest international airport in Lagos, experienced a significant fire outbreak on Monday, leading to the temporary suspension of operations and closure of its airspace. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed the incident, which prompted an immediate emergency response and widespread operational adjustments before the airspace was eventually reopened.

FAAN Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, reported that there were no fatalities resulting from the incident, but six individuals sustained injuries. These six persons, comprising three males and three females, were reported to be in stable condition, with one transferred to the FAAN Headquarters Hospital for further medical evaluation. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, with preliminary findings from the Fire Service indicating that the blaze originated from the server room on the first floor of Terminal 1, although earlier reports mentioned the ground floor. The fire subsequently escalated to the roof of the facility.

The emergency response was swift and coordinated. FAAN activated its Emergency Operations Centre, led by the airport manager who serves as the chief safety and security officer. Emergency procedures were promptly implemented, ensuring the evacuation of all personnel and passengers. A crane was deployed to assist rescue operations at the Control Tower, where 14 individuals were initially trapped; all were safely rescued and evacuated. As an additional safety measure, the sixth floor of the affected facility was completely evacuated to support ongoing emergency operations and risk mitigation efforts. Firefighters remained on the ground as a precaution due to lingering smoke, even after the initial containment.

The fire had a considerable impact on flight operations. Three international flights were diverted: a British Airways flight to Abuja, a Lufthansa aircraft to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, and an Emirates flight was rerouted. Air Peace also informed passengers of inbound and outbound flight delays across its network due to the airfield shutdown. In response to the disruption, most departures and arrivals were relocated to Terminal 2, and FAAN announced that a temporary terminal, ready for use, would accommodate four airlines within days. The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) initiated efforts to establish a temporary Control Tower to facilitate the safe and timely restoration of airport operations.

Mrs. Kuku emphasized that while renovation projects were ongoing within the airport, they were not in the specific area where the fire reportedly began. She confirmed that no activity was taking place where the fire started, apart from personnel moving items. Civil and structural engineers have been enlisted to assess the building’s integrity and determine the necessary next steps. Despite the challenges, operations resumed relatively quickly, with the first flight departing at approximately 7:20 p.m. after the airspace was reopened, though smoke was still visible. FAAN assured passengers that normal operations would resume within hours for those traveling in the immediate aftermath, maintaining that it was safe to come to the airport for flights in the coming hours or days.