Flight Operations Resume in MMIA After Inferno
LAGOS — The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has officially reopened the airspace at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) following a major fire outbreak. Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku confirmed that flight operations resumed at approximately 7:20 p.m. on Monday. While it is true that the inferno caused significant panic, officials reported zero fatalities among passengers and airport personnel. However, six individuals sustained varying degrees of injuries during the emergency evacuation of Terminal 1. Consequently, the airport’s Emergency Operations Centre remains active to monitor the structural integrity of the affected building. This swift reopening aims to minimize disruptions at Nigeria’s busiest gateway, which handles over half of the nation’s international traffic.
The fire reportedly originated on the ground floor before escalating rapidly to the roof of the terminal. Mrs. Kuku noted that investigations currently focus on an area where staff were merely relocating equipment. Furthermore, civil and structural engineers have commenced a comprehensive assessment of the building’s load-bearing capacity and safety. In a related development, police units and helicopters provided critical aerial support during the height of the rescue. Indeed, the first departing flight cleared the runway just hours after firefighters contained the primary blaze.
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The incident forced the immediate diversion of three major international flights during the height of the crisis. A British Airways flight diverted to Abuja, while Lufthansa was rerouted to Malabo in Equatorial Guinea. Similarly, an Emirates flight sought an alternative landing site while emergency teams secured the Lagos tarmac. Granted, the FAAN boss assured travelers that most operations would return to normal within thirty minutes. Notably, the authority has already relocated several departures to the recently commissioned Terminal 2 to maintain flight schedules. Above all, four additional airlines will move into a temporary terminal area within the coming days.
Significantly, the airport manager continues to lead the safety coordination efforts alongside various state and federal agencies. Subsequently, the authority has kept firefighters on the ground as a precaution against potential electrical flare-ups or hotspots. Although renovation projects are ongoing within the airport, they did not occur in the suspected origin. Particularly, the focus now shifts to the restoration of full power and ventilation systems in the domestic corridors. Therefore, the administration advises passengers scheduled for upcoming flights to proceed to the airport as planned.
Finally, the FAAN leadership has promised a transparent report on the cause of the fire once investigators conclude. Therefore, the quest for a safe and resilient aviation hub in Lagos remains a top priority for the Ministry.