BA, Lufthansa, and Emirates Divert Flights as Massive Fire Guts Lagos Airport Terminal; 12 Traffic Controllers Rescued by Crane

A terrifying Monday afternoon at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) saw international travel ground to a halt as a fierce fire tore through the heart of Terminal 1, forcing global airlines to abandon their approach to Lagos. The blaze, which reportedly ignited in an IT server room, sent thick plumes of black smoke into the sky, prompting a desperate rescue operation for staff trapped in the airport’s nerve center.

The “State of Harmony” at Nigeria’s busiest aviation hub was shattered at approximately 3:30 p.m. when the fire broke out on the third floor of the old international terminal. As the flames spread, air traffic controllers found themselves cut off in the tower. In a scene resembling an action movie, emergency teams from the Lagos State Government and Julius Berger utilized cranes and helicopters to evacuate 12 controllers to safety.

The operational fallout was immediate and global. Flights operated by British Airways, Lufthansa, and Emirates already in Nigerian airspace were forced to pull away. While the BA flight sought refuge in Abuja, the Lufthansa and Emirates crews were rerouted to Malabo and other regional hubs as the Lagos airspace was briefly slammed shut.

“Our primary focus was the preservation of life,” stated Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). “While six people are being treated for minor injuries, we are incredibly grateful to report zero fatalities. We have already activated our Emergency Operations Centre and reopened the airspace as of 7:20 p.m.”

Though the terminal was already under renovation, the fire has dealt a significant blow to the facility’s infrastructure. FAAN has now fast-tracked the relocation of all remaining departures to the new Terminal 2. For the thousands of passengers whose travel plans were upended, the message from authorities is one of resilience; temporary halls are being set up, and a remote control tower is now guiding planes back into the “Center of Excellence.”