On Friday, January 16, an aircraft with 248 passengers and 12 crew members had to make an emergency landing at Lagos’ Murtala Mohammed International Airport due to a technical issue that occurred in the middle of the flight. 

The crew had to start emergency procedures after the aircraft encountered issues while in Nigerian airspace, according to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).

According to LASEMA, it sent responders to the airport after receiving a distress alert via its 767/112 Toll Free Emergency Lines. The aircraft was in distress when the agency’s response team arrived, but they also observed that the pilot had made a safe landing with emergency personnel already on standby on the runway.

The multi-agency responders coordinated their cooperative efforts. The aircraft was transferred to the apron for a thorough examination and timely repairs following a thorough inspection by the pilot and the engineering team. According to a statement from LASEMA, “all passengers of the distressed aircraft were safely evacuated; no injuries or fatalities were reported.”.

Despite the forced landing, the emergency response agency confirmed that the incident did not cause major damage to the aircraft. “The aircraft has been secured on the apron. Recovery activities have been completed,” the statement added.