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Six injured: Victims stable, one moved to FAAN hospital
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14 rescued: Crane deployed to evacuate trapped control tower staff
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Flights affected: Airspace temporarily closed as NAMA sets up backup tower
Flight operations were temporarily suspended on Monday after a fire broke out at Terminal One of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed the incident, stating that emergency response teams were immediately deployed to contain the blaze and secure the facility.
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According to FAAN, six people — three men and three women — sustained injuries during the incident but are in stable condition.
One of the victims has been transferred to the FAAN Headquarters Hospital for further medical evaluation.
In a coordinated rescue effort, a crane was deployed to the Control Tower, leading to the successful evacuation of 14 individuals who were initially trapped in the building.
Preliminary findings by the fire service indicate that the fire started in the server room located on the first floor of Terminal One.
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FAAN said the fire within the departure hall has been largely contained, while monitoring continues to prevent further spread.
As a precautionary measure, the sixth floor of the affected building was fully evacuated to support rescue operations and reduce risks.
“In line with established safety protocols, the airspace remains temporarily closed,” FAAN stated, adding that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is working to establish a temporary Control Tower to facilitate the safe restoration of flight operations.
The disruption has already impacted international travel. An Air France flight en route from Paris to Lagos reportedly returned to Paris following the airspace closure.
FAAN said it activated mutual aid arrangements, calling for reinforcements from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, among others.
Authorities have assured the public that investigations are ongoing to determine the full cause and extent of the damage, while efforts continue to restore normal airport operations.