A Qatar Airways aircraft made an emergency landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on Friday evening after the crew detected a technical fault in the onboard oxygen system, Coastal reporters have learned.
The aircraft, registered A7-BCL, declared an emergency at about 6:05pm after pilots alerted air traffic control to the oxygen system malfunction, which required immediate action. The plane landed safely at 6:31pm.
After touchdown, the aircraft remained on the runway before taxiing off at about 7:35pm and was directed to the Delta 35 open bay, where passengers were disembarked.
Airport authorities confirmed that all passengers were safely evacuated following a comprehensive technical inspection carried out by Qatar Airways’ operations and safety teams.
The incident triggered a rapid response from multiple emergency agencies, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Fire Service, Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS), FAAN Medical Services, and FAAN Security. Additional support was provided by the Lagos State Fire Service and Port Health Services to ensure both safety and medical readiness.
Qatar Airways ground staff worked closely with airport officials to manage the situation and assist passengers. Officials said the aircraft would undergo further technical checks before being cleared to return to service.
While rare, faults in aircraft oxygen systems are among the technical issues that can necessitate emergency landings. Aviation safety procedures prioritize passenger safety, and flight crews are trained to respond swiftly to such situations.
The incident comes weeks after a Cessna 172 aircraft, registered as 5N-ASR and operated by Skypower Express, crashed at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, Imo State. The aircraft had departed Kaduna International Airport en route to Port Harcourt on December 16 before diverting to Owerri after declaring an emergency. The crash occurred around 8:00pm with four passengers and crew members onboard.
Similarly, on December 14, an aircraft operated by Flybird Aircraft Management Services Ltd crash-landed at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano State.
