Fire Guts Old MMIA Terminal, Lagos Airspace Shut Indefinitely

Lagos airspace has been shut down indefinitely following a major fire outbreak at the old terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Monday, forcing the suspension of all international flights in and out of the city.

The fire, which broke out earlier in the day, spread rapidly across sections of the terminal building, triggering the immediate deployment of emergency responders. Thick smoke and intense flames, however, hampered rescue and containment efforts.

As the situation escalated, aviation authorities ordered the closure of Lagos airspace, with all aircraft barred from landing or taking off.

“Lagos airspace closed; no flights in and out. No flight can land,” an aviation source confirmed on Monday evening.

Reports from the scene indicated that about 10 people were trapped on the sixth floor of the airport’s control tower, prompting urgent evacuation efforts by firefighters and security agencies.

“There are roughly 10 people trapped at the control tower on the 6th floor and we are making efforts to get them to safety,” a source said.

Rescue operations were complicated by heavy smoke, which severely reduced visibility inside the building.

“I can’t be sure if there are others trapped anywhere else because there is a lot of smoke right now because the fire is still burning,” the source added.

Although the cause of the inferno has not been officially confirmed, initial indications suggest a possible electrical fault.

“The fire is still burning but firefighters are here and are fighting to quench it. We’re not sure of the cause yet but we suspect electrical fault,” the source said.

Witnesses also reported a helicopter hovering around the airport environment during the incident, though its purpose remained unclear.

“The helicopter is roving around but we don’t know what it is doing here. We suspect it may belong to the police but we are not sure,” the source said, adding that there was no indication it was being used for rescue operations.

At the time of filing this report, firefighting efforts were still ongoing, while airport authorities continued work to contain the blaze and secure the facility.

The affected terminal is currently undergoing a multi-billion-naira renovation project. Authorities are expected to issue an official statement on the incident and provide updates on rescue operations, damage assessment, and the timeline for reopening Lagos airspace.