A mid-air technical fault forced a Qatar Airways aircraft carrying 248 passengers to make an emergency landing at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Friday night. Following a distress signal, the flight was successfully guided to the runway by air traffic control, with all passengers and crew disembarking safely.
In a statement signed by Permanent Secretary Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the incident. The aircraft, carrying 248 passengers and 12 crew members, developed a technical fault within Nigerian airspace, triggering a distress alert and an immediate multi-agency emergency response at the airport.
Upon receiving a distress signal through the state’s 767/112 emergency lines, LASEMA instantly deployed its rapid response protocols. Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the agency’s Permanent Secretary, reassured the public of their ‘extreme high alert’ status, crediting the seamless intervention for preventing a potential tragedy in Nigerian airspace.
The Lagos Response Team confirmed upon arrival that the aircraft had already conducted an emergency landing due to technical complications. The pilot’s swift action allowed the plane to touch down safely prior to the full deployment of ground rescue units.
“Following distress alerts received at the Command and Control Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency promptly activated the State’s Emergency Response Plans.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the immediate cause of the incident was technical issues suffered by the distressed aircraft.”
Praising the pilot’s ‘masterful’ handling of the crisis, LASEMA confirmed that all 260 people on board were safe. The agency’s response teams remained on extreme high alert throughout the descent, ensuring a seamless transition from mid-air distress to a secure ground recovery.
“After landing, the aircraft was thoroughly checked by the pilot and engineering crew before being moved to the apron for detailed inspection and necessary repairs. All passengers were safely evacuated, with no injuries recorded.
“The pilot executed a safe landing on the runway at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport with LASEMA response teams and other emergency responders on standby.
“All passengers of the distressed aircraft were evacuated safely, and no casualties were reported.”
The agency further confirmed that despite the harrowing nature of the incident, the aircraft sustained no significant damage and has since been moved to the apron. With recovery operations successfully finalized, LASEMA officially stood down its response teams.
In its final update, the agency stated:
”The aircraft has been secured on the apron, recovery activities are complete, and the rescue operation has been safely concluded.”
Meanwhile, eyewitnesses at Murtala Muhammed International Airport described a scene of high tension to The Punch. They recounted the sight of emergency responders lining the runway as passengers on board braced for the high-stakes landing.
