Gunfire and explosions hit Niamey airport, forcing shutdown as EU airlines scramble

Gunfire and explosions rocked Niamey’s Diori Hamani International Airport on Thursday morning, forcing security forces to cordon off the terminal as passengers and staff scrambled for cover. Witnesses reported sustained bursts of automatic gunfire and at least two large explosions near the airport’s perimeter at approximately 06:30 local time, prompting authorities to suspend all flights and lock down the facility. The attack, which unfolded as the airport prepared for its peak morning traffic, left at least three security personnel injured and triggered a nationwide security alert across Niger.

Residents in central Niamey described hearing heavy weapons fire followed by two distinct detonations, with black smoke visible over the airport’s eastern sector. “We heard the shooting first, then two very loud bangs,” said a local shopkeeper who asked not to be named. “Soldiers arrived within minutes and started evacuating people from the terminal.” The airport operator, Aéroports du Niger, confirmed the closure of all runways and terminals, adding that no civilian casualties had been reported as of 09:00 GMT. Security sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, attributed the assault to an armed group linked to recent jihadist activity in the Sahel.

Meanwhile, European airlines operating in West Africa scrambled to adjust schedules after the attack. Ryanair, Jet2, easyJet, and TUI issued urgent advisories warning passengers booked on flights to or from Niamey to expect significant delays or cancellations, with rebooking options available under new EU passenger rights rules introduced this week.

The incident comes as Ryanair’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary, condemned sweeping changes to EU flight booking regulations that he claims will “disrupt millions of travellers and saddle airlines with crippling compliance costs.” Speaking from Dublin, O’Leary argued that the new rules, which require airlines to issue 96-hour cancellation notices for all flights, are “unworkable in practice” and will lead to mass disruptions during peak travel periods. “This is not about consumer protection—it’s about bureaucratic overreach,” he told reporters.

Separately, a separate but equally costly error at Tallinn Airport in Estonia has highlighted how minor oversights in airport security can trigger severe penalties. A passenger was handed a €1,200 fine after a routine check revealed an expired item in their carry-on that had gone unnoticed during initial screening. The case has prompted Estonian authorities to remind travellers that even “harmless” oversights—such as an expired duty-free item or a misdeclared toiletry—can result in substantial fines under tightened EU aviation security protocols.

With Niamey’s airport still locked down and European carriers bracing for fallout, the dual crises underscore the fragility of global air travel networks amid geopolitical instability and regulatory upheaval.