US NTSB Begins Probe into Lagos-Washington United Airlines Emergency Landing

Chinedu Eze  with agency report

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) yesterday announced that it has started an investigation into United Airlines Flight 613 that left Lagos last Thursday to Washington D.C and experienced an emergency landed that led to injuries of passengers and cabin crew.

Reuters reported that the NTSB said the incident on United Airlines flight occurred as the Boeing B787 was flying in Ivory Coast airspace.

According to the report, aviation officials in Ivory Coast delegated the investigation to the NTSB, which would issue a preliminary report within 30 days.

United said the flight to Washington Dulles in Virginia with 245 passengers, three pilots, and eight flight attendants, returned to Lagos after the unexpected aircraft movement and a technical issue.

The plane landed safely in Lagos and four passengers and two flight attendants were seen at a hospital for minor injuries and have been released.

“We are working with aviation authorities in the US and Nigeria to understand the cause,” United stated.

The flight took off from Nigeria’s commercial city, Lagos on Thursday night, January 23, 2025, but was forced to declare emergency and made air return after about two hours of flight out of the departure airport.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said it was investigating the cause of the incident and examining the aircraft Flight Data Recorder (FDR) to ascertain exactly what happened.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) which conducted the rescue of the passengers on return to Lagos airport, had said its rescue team safely de-boarded 256 souls on board when the aircraft made the emergency landing.

 “United Airlines airplane Boeing 787-800 departed from Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, at 23:59 on Thursday, January 23, 2025. Hours later, the aircraft made an air return and landed safely at 03:22 this morning.

 “On board were 245 adults and 11 crew members. The team of Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS), Aviation Medical and, Aviation Security (AVSEC) were already at the gate when the aeroplane parked for de-boarding at D31 without incident, and the door was opened at 03:37.

“While all passengers and crew disembarked safely, four passengers and two crew members sustained serious injuries, and an additional 27 passengers and five crew members had minor injuries.

“The rescue team responded swiftly and effectively, having been on alert and standby just four minutes after the pilot reported distress at 01:20.

 “Aviation Medical ambulances transported the injured passengers—some to the MMA Clinic and others to the Headquarters Clinic. Those with minor injuries received first aid and were discharged immediately, while those with serious injuries were stabilised and transferred to the Duchess Hospital in Ikeja. Some passengers were also taken to a hotel for accommodation. The aircraft itself did not sustain any major damage,” FAAN had disclosed in a statement.