A Qatar Airways aircraft on Friday, January 16, 2026, made an emergency landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, after developing a technical fault while in flight.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) which confirmed the incident in a statement by its Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said that the aircraft was carrying 248 passengers and 12 crew members.
Oke-Osanyintolu explained that the aircraft encountered technical difficulties while flying within the Nigerian airspace, a development that prompted the crew to declare an emergency.
According to LASEMA, the distress alerts were received through its 767/112 toll-free emergency lines which led to the immediate activation of the state’s emergency response protocol, adding that multiple response teams were swiftly deployed to the airport to manage the situation and prepare for a possible worst-case scenario.
LASEMA assured that it remains prepared to respond to emergencies at all times, emphasising that the prompt and coordinated actions of responders played a critical role in preventing what could have escalated into a serious aviation incident.
The Agency further explained that upon arrival at the airport, its Response Team discovered that the aircraft had already executed a forced landing due to the reported technical fault.
LASEMA further stated; “Following distress alerts received at the Command and Control Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency promptly activated the State’s Emergency Response Plans.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the immediate cause of the incident was technical issues suffered by the distressed aircraft,” it said.
LASEMA commended the pilot for displaying high level of professionalism and skill in safely landing the aircraft despite the mid-air challenge.
The agency also said shortly before touchdown, its emergency teams were on high alert along the runway, adding that the aircraft was later inspected by the pilot and engineering crew before being moved to the apron for more detailed technical checks and necessary repairs.
According to LASEMA; “All passengers were safely evacuated, with no injuries or casualties recorded. Although the incident caused panic among passengers, there was no significant damage to the aircraft.
“Recovery operations were completed successfully, and the plane has since been secured on the apron, recovery activities have been completed, and the rescue operation has been safely concluded,” it stated.
