JUST IN: Lagos Shuts Airspace Indefinitely as Fire Rages Murtala Muhammed Airport

Lagos airspace has been shut down indefinitely following a major fire outbreak at the old terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Monday.

The fire started earlier in the day and quickly spread across parts of the terminal building. Emergency responders were deployed immediately, but thick smoke and intense flames slowed down rescue operations.

As a result of the incident, all international flights were suspended. Aircraft were barred from landing or taking off from Lagos.

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

Reports from the scene indicated that about 10 people were trapped on the sixth floor of the control tower as the fire raged. Firefighters and security agencies worked to gain access to the affected area and evacuate those inside.

“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.

Heavy smoke filled the terminal, making visibility difficult for rescue teams.

“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.

The cause of the fire has not yet been officially confirmed. However, initial suspicion points to a possible electrical fault within the building.

“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 observed a helicopter hovering around the airport environment during the incident. Its exact role 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. It is just roving around,” the source said.

When asked if the helicopter was being used to rescue those trapped in the control tower, the source said there was no sign of such operation.

“We don’t know what it is doing here, honestly. The helicopter is just roving around,” the source added.

At the time of filing this report, firefighting efforts were still ongoing, while airport authorities worked to contain the situation and restore safety around the facility.

The airport terminal affected by the fire is currently undergoing a multibillion-naira renovation project.

However, authorities are expected to issue an official statement on the latest incident and the timeline for reopening Lagos airspace.