A United Airlines flight bound for Washington Dulles International Airport was forced to return to Lagos on Thursday after developing technical hitches mid-air. The incident, involving a Boeing 787-800 aircraft, left some passengers with minor injuries.
The flight, designated UA613, departed from Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) with 245 passengers, eight flight attendants, and three pilots on board. However, shortly into the journey, the aircraft declared an emergency and returned to Lagos.
Sources revealed that the impact of the incident scattered food and passengers’ luggage within the cabin, leading to some injuries among those on board.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed the incident through its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Micheal Achimugu. He stated that investigations into the cause of the technical issues are ongoing. Meanwhile, the airline has arranged accommodations for the passengers, as required by regulatory provisions, while efforts are being made to transport them to the United States.
United Airlines also released a statement acknowledging the technical issue. The airline noted that the aircraft landed safely in Lagos and was met by first responders to address reports of minor injuries among passengers and crew.
“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 address reports of minor injuries to several passengers and crew,” the statement read.
As of the time of filing this report, the exact cause of the technical problem remains unknown.