A United Airlines Flight from Nigeria to DC: 38 Injured in Unexpected Aircraft Movement
Thirty-eight individuals found themselves in a harrowing situation as they were injured, with six requiring hospitalization, following an unexpected incident on a United Airlines flight from Nigeria to Washington, D.C., as confirmed by Nigerian officials.
The exact nature of the emergency that unfolded midair remains shrouded in mystery, but video footage authenticated by NBC News paints a vivid picture of chaos within the passenger cabin of the Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Meal trays and food items were scattered across the floor, while parts of the aircraft’s headliner were dislodged from the cabin’s ceiling.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria disclosed that the United flight took off from Lagos at 11:59 p.m. local time on Thursday (5:59 p.m. ET) and executed an emergency landing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 3:22 a.m. on Friday (9:22 p.m. ET Thursday) after a distressing incident occurred “hours” into the flight.
In a statement issued on Saturday, United Airlines clarified that flight 613, carrying 245 passengers, eight crew members, and three pilots, safely returned to Lagos due to a “technical issue and an unexpected aircraft movement.” Of the injured individuals, four passengers and two flight attendants were hospitalized with minor injuries, as reported by the airline.
Contrastingly, Nigeria’s airports authority painted a graver picture, stating that the six hospitalized individuals suffered “serious” injuries but were stabilized at local medical facilities before being transferred to Duchess Hospital in Ikeja. An additional 27 passengers and five crew members sustained minor injuries and received immediate first aid before being discharged.
The Nigerian airports authority commended its medical team for their prompt response, revealing that they were kept abreast of the situation and stood ready for the flight’s return. Direct communication with the pilot was established, and both medical personnel and firefighters were on standby to assist upon landing.
Fortunately, the aircraft emerged relatively unscathed from the ordeal, according to the airports authority, despite spending 3 hours and 36 minutes in the air, as per FlightAware data. The Federal Aviation Administration deferred further details on the incident to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and United Airlines, while the latter pledged its full cooperation in determining the cause of the incident.
As investigations unfold, the passengers and crew of United Airlines flight 613 are left grappling with the aftermath of a midair scare that underscores the unpredictable nature of air travel.
