Nigeria’s aviation regulator has clarified that the return of a Qatar Airways flight from Lagos to Doha was a precautionary measure and not an emergency, reaffirming the robustness of aviation safety protocols in the country.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said Qatar Airways flight QR1406 returned to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Friday after the cockpit crew detected a technical alert during the flight. The aircraft landed normally and safely, with all 248 passengers and 12 crew members disembarking without incident.
Reacting to reports describing the incident as an emergency, the NCAA stressed that the decision to return was in line with standard global aviation practice. The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Authority, Mr. Michael Achimugu, explained that precautionary air returns are routine safety measures aimed at ensuring passenger wellbeing.
“An air return due to a technical alert that landed normally and safely without incident is standard aviation practice,” Achimugu said.
“There was no incursion, no excursion and no crash landing.”
The regulator noted that such precautionary actions allow potential technical issues to be addressed on the ground and demonstrate the industry’s strong safety culture.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Qatar Airways confirmed that its cockpit crew followed established operational and safety procedures, emphasising that passenger and crew safety remains the airline’s highest priority.
“The cockpit crew followed all established safety procedures, and the aircraft landed safely in Lagos,” the airline said.
Qatar Airways added that affected passengers were assisted on arrival and rebooked on the next available flights to their destinations, while apologising for any inconvenience caused.
Aviation and emergency authorities also commended the coordinated response to the aircraft’s return, describing it as evidence of effective safety oversight and emergency preparedness within Nigeria’s aviation sector.
According to the NCAA, the incident highlights the professionalism of international carriers operating in the country and reflects aviation safety systems functioning exactly as designed.
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