A total of 248 passengers narrowly escaped death on Friday night when a Qatar Airways plane encountered a technical issue in-flight and had to execute an emergency landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency reported that the Qatar Airways plane, carrying 248 passengers and 12 crew members, experienced an issue while flying in Nigerian airspace, prompting distress signals and a swift emergency response.
A preliminary report from LASEMA indicates that the agency promptly initiated the state’s emergency response plan after getting the distress call via its 767/112 toll-free emergency lines.
Emergency landings are carried out when unexpected issues arise during the flight. Pilots send distress signals to the control tower, which directs these aircraft to land safely.
The document, confirmed by LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, indicated that, “In response to distress alerts received at the Command and Control Centre located in Alausa, Ikeja, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency swiftly initiated the State’s Emergency Response Plans.”
The Permanent Secretary assured the public of the agency’s preparedness for emergencies, emphasizing that the quick, coordinated action prevented what might have been a significant aviation disaster.
Witnesses at the airport recounted stressful moments as emergency teams gathered along the runway, while those aboard the Qatar Airlines aircraft prepared for an emergency landing.
LASEMA reported that when its Lagos Response Team arrived at the location, they found that the aircraft had already made a forced landing because of technical difficulties
The report noted, “Preliminary investigations revealed that the immediate cause of the incident was technical issues suffered by the distressed aircraft.”
The agency praised the pilot for his professionalism, successfully landing the aircraft safely while emergency crews 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 agency stated.
After landing, the aircraft was thoroughly checked by the pilot and engineering crew before being moved to the apron for detailed inspection and necessary repairs. All passengers were safely evacuated, with no injuries recorded.
“All passengers of the distressed aircraft were evacuated safely, and no casualties were reported,” LASEMA confirmed.
The agency also stated that despite the frightening incident, there was no significant damage to the aircraft.
Providing an update on the situation, LASEMA revealed that the aircraft has since been secured and recovery operations concluded.
“The aircraft has been secured on the apron, recovery activities have been completed, and the rescue operation has been safely concluded,” the statement read.
LASEMA noted that emergency personnel present at the location included members from LASEMA’s Command and Control Centre, LASAMBUS, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
The spokesperson for the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Achimugu, also confirmed the incident.
In a message on WhatsApp, he stated, “I can verify that there was an air return. “Further information will be provided at a later time.”
As of the time of this report, the airline had not responded to an inquiry message sent to its country manager, Ken Chirchir
