A United Airlines flight from Lagos, Nigeria, to Washington, D.C., was forced to make an emergency landing following a technical issue. The airline reported that the Boeing 787-8 aircraft experienced “an unexpected aircraft movement,” leading to the decision to turn back.
Emergency Landing and Injuries
United Airlines Flight UA613 landed safely back in Lagos early Friday after encountering the issue. According to the airline, six individuals—four passengers and two flight attendants—were taken to the hospital but have since been discharged. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) reported that an additional 27 passengers and five crew members sustained minor injuries.
Onboard Situation
Videos circulating on social media depict chaotic scenes inside the aircraft, with food and personal items scattered across the cabin. The footage also captures the sound of panicked passengers reacting to the situation.
The flight had a total of 245 passengers on board, along with eight flight attendants and three pilots. Flight data from Flightradar24 indicated that the aircraft experienced two sudden drops in speed, at one point slowing from over 500 knots to 40 knots.
Investigation Underway
United Airlines is working closely with US and Nigerian aviation authorities to investigate the cause of the incident. FAAN confirmed that the aircraft did not suffer any major damage.
The Boeing 787-8 involved in the incident, registered as N27903, was manufactured in 2012. This comes after the FAA ordered inspections on hundreds of Boeing 787 aircraft in 2024, following a similar incident involving a Latam Airlines jet that suddenly dropped mid-flight.
Boeing has yet to respond to requests for comment on the incident.
