No fewer than 248 passengers escaped death on Friday night after a Qatar Airways aircraft developed a technical fault mid-air and was forced to make an emergency landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Newsonspot reports that the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed that the aircraft, which was carrying 248 passengers and 12 crew members, encountered the problem while flying within Nigerian airspace. The situation triggered distress alerts and an immediate emergency response from state authorities.
In a preliminary report obtained by this online medium, LASEMA disclosed that it activated the state’s emergency response plan immediately after receiving the distress call through its 767/112 toll-free emergency lines.
According to the agency, emergency landings are usually carried out when unplanned technical faults occur mid-flight, with pilots alerting the control tower and being guided to land safely.
The report, signed by LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that emergency teams were promptly deployed from the Command and Control Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, following the distress alert.
Eyewitnesses at the airport described tense moments as emergency responders lined the runway while passengers onboard prepared for an unexpected landing.
LASEMA said that upon arrival, its response team discovered that the aircraft had already made a forced landing due to the technical issue. Preliminary investigations confirmed that the incident was caused by a technical fault on the aircraft.
The agency commended the pilot for his professionalism, noting that he successfully landed the aircraft safely while emergency responders remained on high alert.
After landing, the aircraft was inspected by the pilot and engineering crew before being moved to the apron for further checks and repairs. All passengers were safely evacuated, and no injuries or casualties were recorded.
LASEMA further confirmed that there was no major damage to the aircraft and that recovery operations had been concluded. The aircraft has since been secured on the apron.
Emergency responders at the scene included LASEMA’s Command and Control Centre, LASAMBUS, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed the incident. Its spokesperson, Michael Achimugu, stated that the aircraft returned due to an air incident and that further details would be provided later.
As of the time of filing this report, Qatar Airways had not responded to enquiries sent to its country manager in Nigeria.
