Passengers aboard a Qatar Airways flight were thrown into fear on Friday night after the aircraft developed a technical problem while flying over Nigerian airspace, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. No fewer than 248 passengers and 12 crew members were safely brought down without injuries.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the incident, stating that the aircraft was fully loaded when the fault occurred mid-air, prompting the pilot to send distress signals to aviation authorities. The alert immediately activated emergency protocols at the Lagos airport.
In a preliminary report obtained by PUNCH Online, LASEMA disclosed that it received the distress call through its 767 and 112 toll-free emergency lines, triggering a coordinated response involving multiple emergency agencies positioned around the airport runway.
Emergency landings are usually initiated when unexpected mechanical or technical issues arise during flight. Upon receiving distress signals from pilots, air traffic controllers guide affected aircraft to land safely while emergency responders remain on standby.
According to the report signed by LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the agency swiftly activated its emergency response plans immediately the distress alert was received at its Command and Control Centre in Alausa, Ikeja.
He reassured residents of the agency’s preparedness to handle emergencies, explaining that the timely and coordinated response helped prevent what could have resulted in a serious aviation disaster.
Eyewitnesses at the airport described tense moments as emergency vehicles lined the runway, while passengers onboard prepared for an unexpected landing.
LASEMA said its Lagos Response Team arrived at the scene to discover that the aircraft had already executed a forced landing due to a technical fault.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the immediate cause of the incident was technical issues suffered by the distressed aircraft,” the report stated.
The agency praised the professionalism of the pilot, noting that he successfully landed the aircraft safely while emergency teams remained on extreme high alert.
“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,” the statement added.
After landing, the aircraft was inspected by the pilot and engineering crew before being moved to the apron for further checks and necessary repairs. All passengers were safely evacuated, and no injuries were recorded.
LASEMA later confirmed that the aircraft had been secured and that all recovery operations had been concluded without incident.
“The aircraft has been secured on the apron, recovery activities have been completed, and the rescue operation has been safely concluded,” the agency said.
Emergency responders involved in the operation included LASEMA’s Command and Control Centre, LASAMBUS, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, said in a WhatsApp message, “I can confirm that there was an air return. Details will be communicated later.”
However, as of the time of filing this report, Qatar Airways had yet to respond to enquiries sent to its country manager, Ken Chirchir.
