At least 248 passengers narrowly escaped disaster on Friday night when a Qatar Airways plane developed a technical fault mid-flight, forcing an emergency landing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that the aircraft, carrying 248 passengers and 12 crew members, experienced the issue while flying over Nigerian airspace, prompting distress signals and a swift emergency response.

A preliminary report from LASEMA, stated that the agency immediately activated the state’s emergency response plan after receiving the distress alert via its 767/112 toll-free emergency lines.

Emergency landings occur when an unexpected fault arises during a flight. Pilots send distress signals to air traffic control, which then guides the aircraft to land safely.

The report signed by the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, 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.”

The Permanent Secretary assured the public of the agency’s preparedness to handle emergencies, emphasizing that the quick and coordinated response helped prevent what could have been a serious aviation disaster.

LASEMA stated that when its Lagos Response Team arrived at the scene, they found that the aircraft had already made an emergency landing following the technical fault.

The report noted, “Preliminary investigations revealed that the immediate cause of the incident was technical issues suffered by the distressed aircraft.”

The agency, however, commended the pilot for his professionalism, successfully bringing the aircraft down safely while emergency teams stood by on “extreme high alert.”

The agency said, “The pilot executed a safe landing on the runway at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport with LASEMA response teams and other emergency responders on standby.”

After landing, the pilot and engineering crew conducted a thorough check of the aircraft before it was moved to the apron for detailed inspection and necessary repairs. All passengers were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.