A United Airlines flight bound for Washington, D.C., from Lagos experienced an emergency and was forced to return to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos early Friday morning.
The flight, designated UA613, departed Lagos late Thursday night with 245 passengers, eight flight attendants, and three pilots. The aircraft was over Ivory Coast airspace when it declared an emergency and initiated a return to Lagos.
A passenger who spoke anonymously to Saturday Vanguard recounted the harrowing experience, revealing that everything appeared normal at first.
Smooth Start, Sudden Incident
“The flight departed at 11:50 p.m. There was no turbulence, and everything was running smoothly,” the passenger said. “We were even allowed to unfasten our seatbelts, and the crew had already served food and drinks.”
However, the situation quickly changed when the plane reached Senegalese airspace.
Sudden Drops and Injuries
“There were three pilots onboard. The lead pilot had gone to the restroom, and another took over. Suddenly, the plane experienced a sharp drop. The impact was so intense that my head slammed into the roof of the plane, leaving blood stains,” the passenger explained.
He recounted losing consciousness briefly before being assisted by a medical personnel onboard. “When I came to, I saw that everyone was in panic. People were shouting prayers, calling out to God for help. It was terrifying.”
The passenger added that the plane experienced three sharp drops over the course of 20 minutes, during which the pilot struggled to stabilize the aircraft. One passenger who was attempting to use the restroom was seriously injured during the incident.
Navigation Issues and Safe Return
According to the passenger, the pilot informed everyone that the plane had lost navigation. Despite the challenges, the crew managed to bring the aircraft back to Lagos safely after about four hours of flight.
Passenger Arrangements Post-Landing
Upon landing, passengers were taken to the Ibis Hotel on Airport Road in Lagos, where they were told the airline would provide further updates. However, by midday on Friday, many passengers expressed frustration over the lack of communication.
“I had to go down to the reception to check for updates, where I met other passengers in the same situation,” the passenger said. “Eventually, I joined a group heading to United Airlines’ office to get more information.”
Rebooking and Choices
At the airline’s office, passengers were given options for rebooking. One passenger shared that they were offered a seat on a Turkish Airlines flight departing Friday evening but opted to wait for United’s direct flight the following day.
“I preferred to wait for United because it’s a direct flight,” the passenger explained.
The incident left passengers shaken but thankful for the pilot’s skill in returning the aircraft safely to Lagos amidst significant challenges.
SOURCE: BBC
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