The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that no fire broke out at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, explaining that the smoke seen inside the facility on Sunday originated from its fire suppression system.
The clarification followed an earlier emergency response that was triggered after smoke was detected at the terminal, raising fears of a possible fire incident.
In a statement released on Sunday, FAAN said preliminary investigations established that the smoke was caused by the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system rather than an actual fire.
According to the authority, officials are currently investigating the circumstances that led to the unexpected activation of the fire suppression equipment.
“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,” the statement read.
Earlier in the day, FAAN had announced an incident at the terminal and immediately activated emergency procedures.
Its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service (ARFFS) was deployed to the scene as a precaution to safeguard passengers, airport personnel and facilities.
The authority confirmed that the incident did not result in any injuries or casualties.
FAAN further assured passengers and airline operators that flight operations have returned to normal, with passenger processing continuing without disruption.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the authority added.
The airport manager also expressed appreciation to passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their patience and cooperation during the emergency response.
Reaffirming its commitment to aviation safety, FAAN said it would continue to uphold the highest safety standards across the nation’s airports while investigations into the activation of the fire suppression system continue.
The Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos is Nigeria’s busiest airport, serving thousands of domestic and international travellers every day.
