Panic at Murtala Muhammed Airport: 3 Flights Diverted as Lagos Reopens After Fire Outbreak
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has reopened the airspace at Murtala Muhammed International Airport Terminal One in Lagos after a fire disrupted activities at the facility.
Naija News reports that the incident happened on Monday, February 23, 2026, and caused panic within parts of the airport.
The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, told journalists that no lives were lost. However, six people suffered injuries during the outbreak and received attention.
The fire affected some flight operations at the airport. Three international airlines had to divert their flights to other locations.
The affected airlines included Emirates, British Airways and Lufthansa. Despite the disruption, airport authorities said operations would gradually return to normal shortly after the situation was brought under control.
Kuku explained that the first step taken by airport officials was to contain the fire and ensure that passengers and staff were moved to safety.
Emergency procedures were activated immediately after the outbreak.
The airport’s Emergency Operations Centre was put into action, with the airport manager leading the response as the Chief Safety and Security Officer.
Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing. Early findings show that the fire may have started from the ground floor of the building before spreading upward to the roof.
Kuku said verifications are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire and more details will be provided after a full assessment.
Although renovation projects are ongoing at the airport, she clarified that no construction work was taking place in the area where the fire began. At the time of the incident, workers were only moving items out of the space.
Following the incident, many departures and arrivals were moved to other sections of the airport. Most departing flights were relocated to Terminal Two.
In addition, four airlines are expected to operate from a temporary terminal that has been prepared for use in the meantime.
