Qatar Airways Flight Forced into Emergency Landing at Lagos Airport

At least 248 passengers were spared a potential tragedy on Friday night after a Qatar Airways aircraft suffered a technical malfunction mid-flight and was forced to make an emergency landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed that the aircraft, carrying 248 passengers and 12 crew members, developed the fault while flying within Nigerian airspace, prompting distress alerts and the activation of emergency protocols.

According to LASEMA, the distress call was received through its 767/112 emergency lines, triggering the immediate deployment of the state’s emergency response teams in line with established aviation safety procedures.

Emergency landings are typically initiated when unforeseen technical issues arise during flight, with pilots coordinating closely with air traffic control to ensure a controlled and safe descent.

In a preliminary incident report signed by LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the agency said swift action was taken once the alert reached its Command and Control Centre in Alausa, Ikeja.

“Upon receipt of distress signals, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency promptly activated the State Emergency Response Plan,” the statement noted.

The agency said the coordinated response by emergency services played a crucial role in preventing what could have escalated into a major aviation incident.

Eyewitnesses at the airport described tense scenes as emergency personnel were positioned along the runway while passengers onboard prepared for an unscheduled landing.

Upon arrival, LASEMA officials confirmed that the aircraft had already executed a forced landing due to the technical fault.

“Preliminary findings indicate that the incident was caused by technical issues experienced by the aircraft,” the agency said.

LASEMA commended the flight crew, particularly the pilot, for demonstrating professionalism and composure under pressure, successfully landing the aircraft while emergency teams remained on high alert.

“The pilot safely landed the aircraft at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport with emergency responders standing by,” the statement added.

Following the landing, the aircraft was inspected by the pilot and engineering crew before being moved to the apron for further technical checks and repairs. All passengers were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.

“All passengers were safely evacuated from the aircraft, and there were no casualties,” LASEMA confirmed, adding that the aircraft did not sustain significant damage.

The agency later announced that the aircraft had been secured and that all recovery operations had been completed.

“The aircraft is now secured on the apron, recovery activities have been concluded, and the emergency operation has been safely brought to an end,” the statement said.

Emergency responders involved in the operation included personnel from LASEMA’s Command and Control Centre, LASAMBUS, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority also confirmed the incident. Its spokesperson, Michael Achimugu, said there was an air return involving the aircraft and that further details would be released in due course.

As of the time of reporting, the airline had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.