A fire broke out at the old terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Monday, severely disrupting flight operations, stranding passengers, and forcing several flights to divert. The incident heightened travel delays and operational uncertainty for multiple airlines.
At least six people were hospitalized after the blaze engulfed Terminal 1, prompting a large-scale emergency response, damaging airport infrastructure, and necessitating the diversion of international flights. The fire, which started around 3:00 pm, was still being fought by firefighters as of 7:00 pm, with thick smoke pouring from parts of the terminal.
Emergency responders, including five ambulances, were seen evacuating the injured to the airport hospital, while efforts continued to contain the fire. Several pieces of operational equipment and airline property were reported destroyed in the blaze.
The affected terminal, part of the airport’s older infrastructure and currently under renovation, had been slated for a comprehensive overhaul under a N712bn rehabilitation project approved by the Federal Executive Council.
Reports indicate that about 12 staff members were initially trapped in the control tower when the fire broke out. They were later rescued with the help of a construction crane. With control tower operations affected, all aircraft movements were suspended while the incident was ongoing.
Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, stated that the immediate priority was to contain the fire, with investigations to determine the cause already underway. She confirmed that emergency operating procedures were promptly activated, leading to the safe evacuation of everyone in the building and no fatalities reported.
Preliminary findings suggest the fire originated on the ground floor before spreading upwards. The flames reportedly reached the roof before emergency teams gained control, aided by multiple agencies, including the police and rescue helicopters.
Kuku also emphasized that a team of civil and structural engineers would assess the terminal’s structural integrity once the fire was fully contained to determine next steps for renovation.
She noted that most airport operations had already moved to Terminal 2 in preparation for the rehabilitation project. Three flights—British Airways, Lufthansa, and Emirates—were diverted to Abuja and Malabo due to the fire.
FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, confirmed the incident and assured the public that authorities were on site managing the situation. He reiterated that no lives were lost and stated that further updates would be provided.
Air Peace, in a statement, announced the temporary closure of the Lagos airfield following the outbreak. The airline noted that airport authorities had suspended operations to allow emergency crews to contain the situation and protect users and infrastructure. As a result, delays affected inbound and outbound flights across the network.
As of the time of this report, firefighting efforts were ongoing, with assessments of damage underway and airlines adjusting their operations in response to directives from airport authorities.
