United Airlines Flight from Lagos to Washington Forced to Return After Mid-Air Jolt Injures Six Passengers

A United Airlines flight from Lagos, Nigeria, was forced to make an emergency return after an unexpected mid-air jolt left six people injured.

Flight 613, which was headed to Washington, DC, experienced the shocking incident on Friday, causing it to divert back to its point of origin.

Technical Issue Causes Mid-Air Chaos

The Boeing 787-8 aircraft, carrying 245 passengers, eight flight attendants, and three pilots, had departed late the previous night.

Around 93 minutes into the flight, FlightRadar24 data indicated that the plane dropped abruptly from its cruising altitude.

Passengers reportedly captured footage of the chaos unfolding onboard, with trays, food, and personal items scattered throughout the cabin.

Passengers and Crew Injured

According to a United Airlines spokesperson, the plane landed safely back in Lagos.

Four passengers and two flight attendants sustained minor injuries, and they were seen at a hospital but have since been released.

The cause of the sudden mid-air movement remains unclear, but United Airlines is collaborating with aviation authorities in both the U.S. and Nigeria to investigate further.

Previous Incident Raises Questions

Interestingly, Flight 613 had experienced a similar diversion just days before.

On Tuesday, the same aircraft had to make an emergency diversion to Accra, Ghana, after dropping rapidly by 1,000 feet, about 89 minutes after takeoff.

It is unknown whether the two incidents are connected.

Another Emergency Landing by Cathay Pacific Flight

In other emergency flight news, a Cathay Pacific flight from Boston was also forced to make an emergency landing earlier this week.

Flight CX811, which was bound for Hong Kong, reported smoke in the cabin shortly after taking off from Boston Logan International Airport.

The aircraft was unable to climb further and remained at around 5,000 feet before declaring an emergency.

The crew then dumped fuel and returned to Logan, where emergency vehicles were waiting for its landing.

No Injuries in Both Incidents

Thankfully, no injuries were reported in the Cathay Pacific incident.

The plane landed safely, and Massport confirmed that the aircraft returned to the gate for inspections by engineers.

Meanwhile, United Airlines continues to investigate the cause of the mid-air jolt on its flight.