Thirty-three people aboard a United Airlines Boeing 787-800 flying to the US were injured after the plane made an emergency landing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. Among the injured, six sustained serious injuries, including two crew members. The flight had taken off at 11:59 pm on Thursday but returned to the airport after about three hours due to a technical issue. The plane was carrying 256 people, including 11 crew members, all of whom were safely de-boarded after landing.
According to FAAN spokesperson Mrs. Obiageli Orah, the agency’s Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS), Aviation Medical, and Aviation Security (AVSEC) teams were fully mobilized when the aircraft landed at gate D31. The plane touched down at 3:37 am, and all passengers and crew disembarked without incident. Four passengers and two crew members had serious injuries, while 27 passengers and five crew members suffered minor injuries.
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The rescue teams responded swiftly, reaching the plane four minutes after the pilot reported the distress at 1:20 am. Injured passengers were taken to the MMA Clinic and Headquarters Clinic, with those who had minor injuries receiving first aid and being discharged. Serious cases were transferred to Duchess Hospital in Ikeja. Some passengers were also accommodated in a hotel. The aircraft itself did not sustain significant damage. United Airlines confirmed that Flight UA613 returned to Lagos to address the technical issue, and first responders were on hand to assist those injured.
