Nigeria’s Main International Airport Reopens After Fire Outbreak, Six Injured, Flights Diverted

The Murtala Muhammed International Airport Terminal One in Lagos, Nigeria’s busiest international airport, has reopened after a fire outbreak that injured six people and caused diversion of three international flights. FAAN Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku confirmed no fatalities, with emergency procedures activated swiftly. British Airways flight was diverted to Abuja, Lufthansa to Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), and Emirates was rerouted while emergency teams contained the blaze.

The fire started on the ground floor and escalated to the roof. Most departures have been relocated to Terminal 2, with four airlines scheduled to move into a temporary terminal ready within days. Investigations into the cause are ongoing, with civil and structural engineers assessing the building’s integrity. The first flight departed around 7:20 p.m. after airspace reopened, though smoke was still visible. Firefighters remain on ground as precaution.

Key Points:

The swift reopening minimised disruption to Nigeria’s aviation hub.
Six injured and diverted flights highlight the incident’s severity.
Passengers face temporary inconvenience, while FAAN demonstrates emergency readiness.
This signals the importance of robust emergency protocols at critical infrastructure.
The timing, with investigations ongoing, seeks to prevent recurrence.

Lagos airport reopens after fire injures six, diverts three international flights; FAAN activates emergency procedures, relocates operations to Terminal 2.

Sources: Premium Times, FAAN, NAN