Qatar Airways Plane Returns to Lagos After Mid-Air Technical Glitch

A Qatar Airways flight on Friday night made an emergency return to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, after developing a technical fault shortly after takeoff.

Airport officials said the pilot contacted Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) minutes into the flight to report a mechanical issue and requested an immediate air return. Clearance for an emergency landing was granted without delay.

The aircraft, which had 260 people on board — including 248 passengers and 12 crew members — landed safely in Lagos. Qatar Airways operates Boeing 787-800 and 787-900 aircraft on its Doha–Lagos route.

Although the exact nature of the fault had not been determined as of press time, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr. Michael Achimugu, confirmed the incident.

“I can confirm there was an air return. Details will be communicated later,” Achimugu said.

A source at the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) also acknowledged the occurrence, classifying it as a serious incident, though no official statement had been issued by the bureau at the time of filing this report.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said it received distress calls through its 767 and 112 emergency lines and promptly deployed response teams to the airport.

In a statement signed by its Director-General, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, LASEMA said the aircraft declared an emergency after experiencing technical challenges while airborne within Nigerian airspace.

“All passengers were safely evacuated, with no injuries recorded,” the agency said, adding that the aircraft did not suffer any significant damage during the emergency landing.