United Airlines Flight UA613, a Boeing 787-8, declared an emergency while en route from Lagos to Washington D.C., prompting a return to Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA). The flight, which had 245 passengers, eight flight attendants, and three pilots, encountered a technical issue that led to an emergency landing.
The aircraft, which had been flying over the Ivory Coast airspace, experienced a sharp descent, causing minor injuries to several passengers and crew members. One passenger, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the unsettling moment after they had unfastened their seatbelts. According to the passenger:
“We had already been served our meals when the plane lost pressure and dropped. We noticed a sharp descent. I hit my head on the ceiling because of the impact. I became unconscious, but one person from the medical team came to attend to me in the middle of the turmoil. The sharp descent happened three times, causing some people to sustain injuries. We spent four hours on air. In the midst of the turmoil, the pilot said we were going to land in Ghana, but we eventually landed in Nigeria.”
The United Airlines spokesperson clarified that the flight returned to Lagos to address a technical issue. Upon landing, the aircraft was met by first responders to assist passengers and crew with the minor injuries reported.
This incident, while alarming, was handled promptly, and all passengers were safely attended to. United Airlines has assured that an investigation into the cause of the technical issue will be conducted.
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