The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has said that decisive leadership and the swift activation of established emergency protocols by the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, averted what could have been a far more serious outcome during Monday’s fire outbreak.
The incident occurred at the Old International Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), where prompt response measures helped to contain the situation and prevent escalation.
In a statement issued following the incident, NAAPE President, Captain Bunmi Gindeh described the fire as a significant operational disruption that tested the resilience of Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure, noting that the coordinated and structured response by FAAN ensured the protection of lives, the orderly evacuation of personnel, and the stabilisation of airport operations.
The association acknowledged that beyond containing the fire, airport authorities effectively managed multiple layers of crisis response, including the evacuation of staff from the control tower, the mobilisation of emergency services, inter-agency coordination, medical response for injured persons, and the safe diversion of international flights.
Captain Gindeh stated that the outcome of the incident reflected preparedness rather than improvisation.
“What we witnessed was not a reaction born out of confusion, but the execution of a prepared system. The immediate activation of the Emergency Operations Centre, the protection of lives, the structured evacuation process, and the orderly management of flight diversions demonstrate that FAAN had a workable emergency framework in place. Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku’s leadership ensured that a potentially tragic situation was stabilised with professionalism and clarity of command.”
He noted that in aviation, the true measure of safety governance is revealed during moments of strain.
“Airports are complex operational ecosystems. When an incident affects critical infrastructure, the ripple effects can be severe, from air traffic control to passenger processing and airline operations. The fact that there was no loss of life and that operational order was progressively restored speaks to institutional discipline and coordinated crisis management.”
NAAPE further observed that the temporary suspension of operations and diversion of inbound international flights were necessary precautionary measures designed to prioritise safety over convenience, adding that such decisions reflect responsible aviation management.
The association commended FAAN’s multi-agency coordination involving firefighting units, security services, medical teams, and technical personnel, which worked in concert to contain the outbreak and secure the affected facility.
While investigations into the cause of the fire continue and structural assessments are expected to determine the integrity of the affected terminal, NAAPE urged sustained investment in infrastructure modernisation, redundancy systems, and periodic emergency simulations across Nigeria’s airports.
Captain Gindeh reaffirmed the association’s commitment to constructive engagement within the aviation sector.
“Incidents such as this remind us that preparedness must be continuous. We commend FAAN’s leadership for demonstrating that emergency planning is not merely theoretical but operational. The aviation community must now consolidate the lessons learned and further strengthen resilience across our national gateway.”
The association expressed solidarity with FAAN management, airport workers, airline operators, and passengers affected by the disruption, expressing confidence that full operational normalcy will be restored following comprehensive technical reviews and remedial measures.
