Twelve air traffic control personnel were successfully rescued Monday afternoon after a major fire broke out at Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), forcing a temporary shutdown of the airfield.
The blaze, which originated in the IT server room on the third floor near the E-wing of the departure lounge, trapped the staff within the airport’s control tower. Emergency responders from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service executed a high-stakes evacuation, ensuring all personnel were brought to safety without injury.
Margaret Adeseye, Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, confirmed the successful operation in an official statement. “The fire outbreak at Terminal 1 of MMIA is under control. All 12 personnel of the control tower have been successfully rescued alive without any injuries, and no one remains trapped,” Adeseye stated.
FAAN officials reported that the fire caused significant damage to the IT infrastructure but was contained before it could spread to other critical wings. The authority activated mutual aid arrangements, calling for reinforcements from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and private sector partners, including Julius Berger and CCECC, to manage the crisis.
The incident triggered immediate flight disruptions, with Air Peace and other carriers announcing delays. In a statement to the public, FAAN noted, "Our firefighting team is currently responding and working to contain the situation. No loss of life has been recorded." Passengers and airport staff were evacuated in an orderly manner to the D-Wing while the airfield was temporarily closed to allow for emergency operations.
While the immediate fire has been extinguished, authorities have launched a full investigation into the cause of the server room ignition. The terminal, which was already slated for extensive renovation, remains under heavy security as technical teams assess the damage to flight safety systems and communication lines.