United Flight 613 Forced to Divert Back to Lagos, Nigeria

Four passengers and six flight attendants were hospitalized after an ‘unexpected’ maneuver sent United Flight 613 into a descent. The aircraft was forced to return to its departure airport, Murtala Muhammed International (LOS), for landing.

At around 11:59 pm on January 24, United Airlines flight 613 took off from LOS heading towards Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). The Boeing 787 jet carried 245 passengers, eight flight attendants, and three pilots.

90 minutes into the flight, flight data shows that the airliner began a sudden descent and lost more than 1,000 feet of altitude. The flight crew sent out a distress signal at 1:20 am and turned back towards its departure airport in Lagos, Nigeria. UA613 landed at 3:22 am and taxied back to gate D31 to meet emergency personnel.

"Our flight from Lagos, Nigeria to Washington D.C. returned to Lagos after a technical issue and an unexpected aircraft movement,” United commented. “It 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 U.S. and Nigeria to understand the cause."

While only six were taken to the hospital for treatment, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) reported that at least 31 passengers and 7 crew members sustained an injury.

After the aircraft landed safely, photos and videos began to swirl on social media depicting food, beverages, dishes, and other items flailing around the cabin. One passenger, Benjamin Amaechi, uploaded footage with the caption: “Please thank God for me. Last night we had a harrowing experience on United flight fro. Lagos to Washington, DC. The plane was spiraling out of control, lost its navigational and other tools.”

Though the cause for the incident has yet to be released, it looks similar to a mishap back in March 2024. Another 787 was flying from Sydney to Auckland and experienced a “strong movement,” injuring 50 people on board. The preliminary cause of the “technical event” was a flight attendant unintentionally hitting a button that pushed the pilot’s seat forward.

FMI: www.united.com