United Airlines flight makes emergency return after technical failure

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A United Airlines flight en route from Lagos, Nigeria, to Washington Dulles International Airport was forced to return mid-flight on Friday due to a technical issue, leaving six people hospitalized.

The aircraft, Flight 613, experienced “unexpected aircraft movement,” prompting an emergency return.

The incident resulted in four passengers and two crew members suffering serious injuries, while 27 passengers and five crew members sustained minor injuries.

A total of 245 passengers and 11 crew members were aboard. Following the flight’s return to Lagos, the injured passengers were hospitalized but have since been discharged.

Tracking data revealed significant drops in the aircraft's speed twice during the flight at 36,000 feet, with the speed decreasing sharply from over 500 knots to 40 knots before returning to normal.

A third, smaller speed drop occurred shortly afterward, after which the flight reversed course and returned to Lagos.

The flight, a Boeing 787-8, took off from Murtala Muhammed International Airport at midnight local time and reported distress at around 1:20 a.m as the plane landed safely back in Lagos at 3:22 a.m.

Aviation authorities from both Nigeria and the United States are investigating the cause of the issue. Boeing, the manufacturer of the aircraft, has yet to comment on the incident.