According to the Daily Mail, a United Airlines flight from Nigeria to Washington landed in Lagos. The Boeing 787-8 aircraft, carrying 245 passengers, three pilots, and eight flight attendants, took off from Lagos late Thursday evening. Ninety-three minutes after takeoff, the plane abruptly lost altitude, scattering food, trays, and passengers’ personal belongings across the cabin.
In a video recorded by passengers, chaos inside the plane’s cabin can be seen. United Airlines representatives confirmed that four passengers and two crew members sustained minor injuries. All injured individuals sought medical assistance and were discharged after examination.
The airline has not yet explained the reasons for the sudden change in altitude. In a statement, United Airlines said it is working with aviation authorities in the United States and Nigeria to investigate the incident.
Interestingly, this is the second incident involving this aircraft in the past week. On Tuesday, the same Boeing 787-8, flying the same route, was also forced to abort its flight. Eighty-nine minutes after takeoff, the plane lost about 300 meters of altitude and was redirected to Accra, Ghana. A connection between the two incidents has not yet been established.
Emergency landing situations have been drawing increased attention recently. Last week, a Cathay Pacific flight from Boston to Hong Kong also made an emergency landing due to smoke in the cockpit. The crew decided to return to the airport immediately after takeoff, dumping fuel over Massachusetts Bay.
Airlines emphasize that they adhere to strict safety standards and investigate all such incidents. Experts note that turbulence can be caused by numerous factors, including weather conditions or technical malfunctions. Nevertheless, airlines continue to strengthen safety measures to minimize risks for passengers.
United Airlines assured that it prioritizes safety and will conduct a thorough investigation to prevent similar incidents in the future.