A scary moment unfolded on a United Airlines flight from Lagos, Nigeria, to Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia when the plane suddenly jolted mid-air, leaving six people hurt. Four passengers and two crew members sustained injuries during the incident, which occurred on Friday, according to United Airlines.
Passengers described the chaos, sharing videos showing trays, food, and belongings scattered across the cabin floor after the abrupt movement.
Flight 613, which had 245 passengers, eight flight attendants, and three pilots on board, made an emergency landing back in Lagos. The injured individuals were taken to a nearby hospital and later released, according to United Airlines spokesperson Leslie Scott.
The exact cause of the unexpected in-flight movement remains unclear. United Airlines confirmed it was not caused by severe turbulence and is working closely with aviation authorities in the U.S. and Nigeria to determine what happened.
Flight data from FlightRadar24 revealed the plane dropped suddenly from cruising altitude about 93 minutes after takeoff. Interestingly, the same aircraft had been diverted earlier in the week during a similar Lagos-to-Washington route. Data from that previous flight showed a steep descent about 89 minutes into the journey. Whether the two incidents are connected is still unknown.
The plane involved in the incident was a Boeing 787, a model that has been under scrutiny since a separate mid-air dive on a Latam Airlines flight last March. In that case, investigators found that a pilot’s seat had moved forward unexpectedly, pressing into the controls and causing the plane’s nose to dip. Following the Latam incident, Boeing advised airlines to inspect cockpit seat switches on their 787 models.
For now, United Airlines is working to rebook passengers on other flights and has accommodated them in hotels while they wait. Michael Achimugu, a representative from Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority, confirmed there were no fatalities and assured the public that the situation is being investigated thoroughly.
Though the incident caused quite the scare, passengers and crew are safe and sound, a reminder of the importance of quick action and the resilience of everyone involved.
