United Airlines Passengers Injured,Flight Makes Emergency Landing

The flight, UA613, was carrying 245 passengers, eight flight attendants, and three pilots when the incident occurred.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria provided a detailed account of the emergency. The aircraft departed from Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 23:59 on Thursday, January 23, 2025, and returned for an emergency landing at 03:22 the following morning due to reported pressure loss.

Upon landing, the Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services, Aviation Medical, and Aviation Security teams were strategically positioned at gate D31. The aircraft deboarded without additional incident, with doors opening at 03:37.

The emergency resulted in significant medical consequences. Four passengers and two crew members sustained serious injuries, while an additional 27 passengers and five crew members experienced minor injuries.

The rescue team demonstrated exceptional preparedness, responding within four minutes of the pilot’s initial distress report at 01:20.

Aviation Medical ambulances transported injured passengers from United Airlines (UA) Flight UA613 to multiple medical facilities following an emergency landing in Lagos, Nigeria. Some patients were taken to the MMA Clinic and Headquarters Clinic, with minor injury cases receiving immediate first aid and discharge.

Seriously injured passengers received stabilization and transfer to Duchess Hospital in Ikeja, while some passengers were provided hotel accommodation.

A passenger’s firsthand account revealed the dramatic mid-flight emergency. During the incident, passengers had already been served meals when the aircraft suddenly lost pressure and experienced multiple sharp descents.

The passenger described hitting their head on the ceiling during the impact and briefly losing consciousness before receiving medical attention amidst the chaos.

The flight, which was en route from Lagos to Washington D.C., spent four hours in turbulent conditions. The pilot initially communicated a potential landing in Ghana before ultimately returning to Lagos. The aircraft did not sustain major structural damage during the emergency.

United Airlines officially confirmed the incident, attributing the emergency to an unspecified “technical issue.” The airline stated that the flight returned to Lagos to address the technical problem and was met by first responders to manage reported passenger and crew injuries.