Lagos airport fire shuts airspace, disrupts flights
Operations at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport were severely disrupted on Monday, 23 February 2026 after a fire in the old terminal forced a temporary airspace closure, widespread cancellations and diversions. The blaze, which began around 14:00 and was largely contained by about 20:00, affected facilities including the control tower and other critical operational areas, leaving many passengers stranded and impacting regional flight schedules.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria said no lives were lost, with six casualties reported as stable, and confirmed that 14 people trapped in the control tower were evacuated by crane. FAAN said the fire originated in a server room on the first floor of Terminal 1 and that the departure hall fire was under control, while the sixth floor was cleared as a precaution. The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency is working to establish a temporary control tower to restore operations, amid knock‑on effects for West African traffic and travel plans.
Source: Independent Nigeria
