Theft happens at airports, and often it’s an inside job. However, usually it involves things that are valuable and easy to carry, like drugs, cash, and gold… and not runway lights. But I suppose there’s a first time for everything.
Nigerian airport runway lights disappear
One of the runways at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria (LOS) currently isn’t fully functional. The reason? Well, some of the runway lights have been stolen just months after they were installed. It’s believed that airport workers were involved in the theft, and an investigation has now been launched to arrest those behind this and recover what’s missing.
So, what’s the backstory here? Lagos Airport has two sets of runways, with one being closer to the international terminal, and one being closer to the domestic terminal.
In November 2022, new lights were installed on the runway closest to the domestic terminal. This meant that planes could operate using that runway at night, while previously planes had to use the other runway, and then taxi a greater distance to get to and from the domestic terminal.
For the past few months, that runway had been undergoing maintenance. During that time, the criminals took advantage of that, and decided to steal part of the runway’s lighting system.
According to the NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions), it’s actually the PAPI (precision approach path indicator) lights that were stolen. These lights are important for pilots to be able to maintain the correct glidepath while approaching the runway.
So for the time being, pilots are warned that the PAPI lights for runway 18L are unserviceable. Currently this restriction applies through October 7, 2023, though presumably that timeline could change, depending how quickly the airport is able to fix this.
What do you do with stolen runway lights?!
Here’s the part of the story that puzzles me most. As I mentioned earlier, I can understand what would motivate people to steal things like jewelry, cash, drugs, etc., since those are things that are easy to hide, and also easy to resell.
But what on earth do you do with a stolen runway lighting system? I’d assume Heathrow and Schiphol aren’t scouring the black market to see where they can find some gently used PAPI lights? This also seems high risk, because it takes some time to steal them, and you also can’t easily conceal them. Yet somehow thieves seemingly got away with this, at least as of now?
Then there’s the whole question of how bad airside security is at Lagos Airport, when thieves can literally just steal the runway lights without anyone noticing. I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised, as this is the same airport where someone managed to jump on an aircraft’s wing to hitch a ride, just before it was supposed to take off…
Bottom line
One of Lagos Airport’s runways isn’t fully operational, after thieves stole the lighting system that helps planes land safely. The runway had been closed for maintenance, and during that time, some of the runway lights were stolen. Authorities believe it was an inside job, though as of now there have been no arrests.
What do you make of this Lagos Airport runway lighting theft?
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