A United Airlines flight, a Boeing 787-8 traveling from Lagos to Washington Dulles, declared an emergency on Thursday and turned back to Lagos. After establishing a return flight path to Lagos, sources confirmed that the aircraft crew kept the emergency transponder code 7700 (Emergency signal) activated while maintaining communication with the control tower until the plane safely landed.
The aircraft, which was initially bound for Washington Dulles International Airport, was registered under the number N27903. It is a widebody aircraft over 13 years old, owned by the US carrier United Airlines. The flight was carrying 245 passengers, eight flight attendants, and three pilots.
Reports indicate that some passengers sustained injuries during the emergency. Distressed passengers on board sent videos and images to the correspondent, revealing that food and luggage were scattered throughout the aircraft, causing a mess due to the turbulence and shaky nature of the flight.
While the exact cause of the panic remains unknown at the time of reporting, passengers believe the issue may have been related to an engine malfunction. However, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the true cause of the incident.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection for the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Micheal Achimugu, was contacted and confirmed the incident. He added that, in line with regulatory requirements, the affected passengers have been accommodated in a hotel. “Yes, it is true, and no problems, the passengers have been lodged in a hotel as stipulated by the NCAA Act,” Achimugu said.
United Airlines also issued a brief statement confirming the incident. The airline attributed the emergency to “a technical issue.” The statement further explained, “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.”
As of the latest report, authorities are still looking into the circumstances surrounding the flight’s emergency landing, and the true cause remains under investigation.
