US Launches Investigation Into United Airlines Flight From Lagos After Technical Issue Forces Mid-Air U-Turn

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an investigation into an incident involving United Airlines Flight 613, which was traveling from Lagos, Nigeria, to Washington D.C. The flight encountered a sudden movement while flying over Ivory Coast airspace, leading to injuries among passengers and cabin crew members. The NTSB will lead the investigation at the request of Ivorian aviation officials and is expected to release a preliminary report within 30 days, according to Reuters.

United Airlines reported that Flight 613, which was carrying 245 passengers, three pilots, and eight flight attendants, had to return to Lagos after experiencing an unexpected movement and technical issue mid-flight. The Boeing 787 aircraft landed safely, and four passengers, along with two flight attendants, received medical treatment for minor injuries at a local hospital before being discharged.

“We are working with aviation authorities in the U.S. and Nigeria to understand the cause,” United Airlines stated.

Nigeria News 247 also covered the incident, revealing that the Boeing 787-8, which had taken off from Lagos and was headed to the U.S., was forced to make an emergency return due to the technical malfunction that caused injuries to several passengers. A passenger video shared by SaharaReporters showed the interior of the aircraft with luggage scattered around after the sudden movement.

One of the passengers, reflecting on the experience, shared their harrowing account: “Please thank God for me. Last night we had a harrowing experience on United flight from Lagos to Washington, DC. The plane was spiraling out of control, lost its navigational and other tools.”

The passenger explained that the plane had passed Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and was initially supposed to make an emergency landing in Ghana. However, the aircraft regained its lost systems, allowing it to return to Lagos, though some passengers, including crew members, were injured during the incident.

After landing, the passengers had to wait for medical personnel, who took a significant amount of time to reach the plane. The passenger expressed frustration, noting that, “We have no value for human life in this country and therefore are never prepared for emergencies.”

Despite the traumatic experience, no fatalities were reported. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed that the passengers were accommodated in a hotel near the airport as per regulations, and there were no fatal casualties. Micheal Achimugu, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, stated that the incident was due to a “technical issue.”

United Airlines provided a statement confirming that the aircraft experienced a technical issue during the flight, prompting the emergency return to Lagos. The airline noted that first responders met the plane upon landing to attend to the reported minor injuries among passengers and crew. The flight was canceled due to the ongoing technical issue.

This incident has raised concerns about air safety and emergency preparedness, particularly in situations involving technical malfunctions during long-haul flights.