• Six people suffered serious injuries on United Airlines Flight 613 from Lagos to Washington D.C.
• The plane experienced a sudden jolt 93 minutes post-takeoff, leading to an emergency landing in Lagos.
• Passengers described chaotic scenes onboard, with food and items scattered across the cabin.
• United Airlines is cooperating with aviation authorities to investigate the incident, which reportedly was not caused by turbulence.

On Friday, a United Airlines flight from Lagos, Nigeria to Washington D.C. was forced to make an emergency return due to an unexpected aircraft movement that injured 38 people, as reported by Newsweek. The incident occurred at approximately 3:22 a.m. local time, about 93 minutes after takeoff, when Flight UA613 experienced a severe and sudden descent from cruising altitude.

The flight, which was aboard a Boeing 787-8, carried 245 passengers, eight flight attendants, and three pilots. Initial reports cited that four passengers and two crew members sustained moderate injuries and were hospitalized but have since been released, according to statements given by India Times and Business Insider.

Further investigation revealed that an additional 27 passengers and five more crew members sustained minor injuries. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) reported that all injured passengers were treated quickly and effectively. Videos from the scene showed chaos in the cabin, with food and drinks scattered as passengers expressed alarm about the event.

United Airlines spokesperson Leslie Scott confirmed that the airline is actively investigating alongside aviation authorities in both the U.S. and Nigeria to determine the cause of the incident. Preliminary assessments suggest the jolt was due to a technical issue rather than turbulence. This incident raises concerns as it is not the first disruption for Flight 613; the same plane was diverted just days prior due to a similar issue, prompting questions about potential underlying problems.

The incident echoes previous safety concerns with the Boeing 787 model, highlighting ongoing scrutiny of the aircraft following past events that led to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspections, particularly after a Latam Airlines flight experienced a midair drop last year.

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