FAAN clarifies smoke issue at Lagos airport was not from fire

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) explained that the smoke seen at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos on Sunday was not from a fire. It was caused by the discharge of the terminal's fire suppression system.

This clarification came hours after FAAN first reported a fire incident at the terminal. This announcement caused concern among passengers and airport users, leading to an emergency response.

In its initial statement, FAAN said a fire had broken out at Terminal 2. They also revealed that their Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service (ARFFS) was sent to handle the situation.

"The FAAN Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service is currently responding to the incident and working diligently to contain the situation," the authority said, noting that there were no casualties or loss of life.

The emergency response was activated at the airport before FAAN released another update later in the day to clarify what happened.

According to the authority, early investigations showed there was no fire at the terminal.

"Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal's FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated," FAAN explained.

They added that normal operations resumed at the terminal as investigations continue to find out why the fire suppression system was activated.

"Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident," they stated.

Any report of fire or smoke at an airport starts emergency response procedures due to the risks to passengers, aircraft, and essential airport facilities.

FAAN also appreciated passengers, airlines, airport users, and other stakeholders for their understanding. They reiterated their commitment to keeping airport operations safe and secure.

Even though there was no fire on Sunday, this incident happened just five months after a significant fire at the airport's international terminal. That fire disrupted flight operations and damaged critical aviation infrastructure.

In February, PREMIUM TIMES reported that a fire at Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport led to the temporary closure of the Lagos airfield. This caused flight delays and diversions as emergency responders worked to put out the fire.

The incident resulted in six injuries, and 14 people trapped inside the control tower were rescued. It also damaged important equipment, including weather tools belonging to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

After the February incident, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced plans to demolish the aging Terminal 1, describing the damage as extensive. FAAN also ordered a structural audit of the affected facility before reconstruction.

While Sunday’s incident was resolved quickly without injuries or major disruptions to flight operations, it has brought back focus on the strength of critical infrastructure and emergency readiness at Nigeria's busiest airport. This comes just five months after the February fire.

The Murtala Muhammed International Airport is Nigeria’s busiest airport, serving millions of local and international passengers every year.

FAAN stated that investigations are ongoing to understand why the FM-200 fire suppression system was activated. They promised to give more updates as more information comes in.