A United Airlines flight, UA613, en route from Lagos to Washington, declared an emergency mid-flight and was forced to return to Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, after experiencing a technical issue.
The Boeing 787-8 aircraft, carrying 245 passengers, eight flight attendants, and three pilots, encountered the emergency while flying over Ivorian airspace. Several passengers and crew members sustained minor injuries due to the sudden descent.
A passenger, who spoke anonymously, recounted the harrowing experience, stating, “We had already been served our meals when the plane lost pressure and dropped suddenly. I hit my head on the ceiling due to the impact and briefly lost consciousness. The sharp descent happened three times, causing injuries to some passengers.”
Initially, the pilot announced plans to land in Ghana but later opted to return to Nigeria. The aircraft spent approximately four hours in the air before safely touching down in Lagos, where it was met by emergency responders.
Confirming the incident, United Airlines said, “Flight UA613 from Lagos to Washington D.C. returned to Lagos to address a technical issue. After landing safely, the aircraft was met by first responders to attend to reports of minor injuries among passengers and crew.”
Authorities have yet to provide further details on the nature of the technical issue that led to the emergency landing.
