Qatar Airways has explained the reason one of its flights en route from Lagos to Doha returned to Lagos on Friday night.
In a statement, the airline confirmed that its flight QR 1406, operating the Lagos–Doha route, “made an unplanned return to Lagos due to a technical issue that occurred in flight.”
The clarification followed an earlier incident in which at least 248 passengers were safely rescued after the aircraft developed a technical fault mid-air, forcing an emergency landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
“The cockpit crew followed established procedures and landed the aircraft safely.
“All passengers have disembarked safely and are being taken care of on the ground and will be booked on the next suitable flights to reach their destination as soon as possible,” the airline stated.
Qatar Airways reiterated that passenger and crew safety remains its top priority and apologised for the inconvenience caused by the disruption.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) had earlier confirmed that the aircraft, carrying 248 passengers and 12 crew members, experienced the issue while airborne within Nigerian airspace, prompting distress alerts and an immediate emergency response.
According to a preliminary report, LASEMA said it activated the state’s emergency response plan immediately after receiving the distress call through its 767/112 toll-free emergency lines.
In a further update, the agency disclosed that the pilot, with support from emergency responders, carried out a safe landing, after which all occupants were evacuated without injuries or loss of life.
LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, added that response teams and other emergency agencies were on standby throughout the operation.
“The collaborative efforts of the multi-agency responders were coordinated, and after proper checks, the aircraft was moved to the apron for detailed inspection and repairs,” he said.