A United Airlines flight, a Boeing 787-8 traveling from Lagos to Washington Dulles International Airport, declared an emergency on Thursday and made an air return to Lagos.
The aircraft, identified with registration number N27903, is over 13 years old and belongs to the US carrier United Airlines. It was carrying 245 passengers, eight flight attendants, and three pilots at the time of the incident.
The flight crew maintained the emergency transponder code 7700, signaling distress, until the aircraft landed safely back in Lagos. Reports from passengers indicated that some sustained minor injuries during the turbulent return. Images and videos shared by passengers showed food and luggage scattered across the cabin, attributed to the unstable nature of the flight.
While the exact cause of the incident has not been confirmed, some passengers suspect it may have been engine-related. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau will conduct a detailed investigation to determine the root cause.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed the incident, stating that the airline has provided accommodations for the affected passengers, as required by regulations. Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, remarked, “Passengers have been lodged in a hotel as stipulated by the NCAA Act.”
United Airlines also issued a statement attributing the unscheduled return to a “technical issue.” The statement read: “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.”
