Qatar Airways has explained why one of its Lagos–Doha flights made an unplanned return to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Friday.
In a statement, the airline said Flight QR1406 returned shortly after take-off after a technical issue was detected on the aircraft. There were 248 passengers on board at the time of the incident.
Qatar Airways said the cockpit crew followed standard safety procedures and landed the aircraft safely. All passengers disembarked without incident and were assisted on the ground, while arrangements were made to rebook them on the next available flights to their destination.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) also confirmed the incident in a preliminary report released on Friday. In an e-statement signed by its Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the agency said it responded promptly after receiving a distress alert through its emergency toll-free lines.
According to LASEMA’s findings, the aircraft experienced a technical fault mid-air, prompting the return to Lagos. The agency confirmed that all passengers were safely evacuated, with no injuries or loss of life recorded.
LASEMA added that there was no significant damage to the aircraft, which has since been secured on the apron, with recovery operations completed. The fully loaded aircraft, carrying 12 crew members, was said to have developed the fault during the flight, triggering emergency protocols and a coordinated response by relevant agencies.
Oke-Osanyintolu reassured the public of the agency’s readiness to handle emergencies, noting that the swift response helped avert what could have become a major aviation incident.