Six people suffered ‘significant injuries’ when United Airlines flight en route from Nigeria to USA encountered a sudden mid-air disturbance, forcing it to return to Lagos airport last night.
United Airlines flight UA613, traveling from Lagos, Nigeria to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), experienced severe turbulence that resulted in injuries to passengers and crew members and was forced to make an emergency return to Lagos after declaring an in-flight emergency.
According to a statement from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, there were 245 passengers and 11 crew members aboard the aircraft. Four passengers and two crew members sustained serious injuries, while 27 passengers and five crew members suffered minor injuries.
The aircraft experienced “a technical issue and an unexpected movement” during the journey, the carrier’s spokesperson said, adding that aviation authorities in both the United States and Nigeria have initiated an investigation into the incident’s cause.
A brief video, reportedly recorded by passengers aboard the Boeing 787-8 flight and shared on social media, depicts a scene of disorder within the cabin, with trays, food, and various items scattered across the floor. Posts on social media illustrate the disarray, with food and drinks dispersed throughout the cabin.
Friday night incident echoes previous troubles recently encountered by other Boeing aircraft. In September 2024, an Air India Boeing 787 traveling from New Delhi to Birmingham, UK was forced to make an emergency landing in Moscow, Russia due to technical difficulties. Two months earlier, an Air India Boeing 777, en route from New Delhi to San Francisco, USA had to mane an unscheduled landing in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, due to concerns of a potential onboard fire.
In March, a Boeing 787 flying from Sydney, Australia, to Auckland, New Zealand, experienced a “technical problem during the flight that resulted in significant turbulence.” This incident resulted in injuries to 50 passengers.