38 hurt as United flight from Nigeria to D.C. experiences ‘unexpected aircraft movement’, officials

 United Airlines announced that it is working with U.S. and Nigerian investigators to determine the details of the incident on the flight.

A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from United Airlines lands at Barcelona airport in Barcelona, Spain, on Oct. 15, 2024.

Jan. 26, 2025, 8:47 AM GMT+6

Thirty-eight people were injured, including six who were hospitalized, after a United Airlines flight from Nigeria to Washington, D.C., encountered issues midair, according to Nigerian officials.

The exact nature of the emergency remains unclear, but video footage verified by NBC News shows the Boeing 787-8’s passenger cabin in disarray. Meal trays and food were scattered across the floor, and parts of the cabin’s ceiling appeared to have detached.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria reported that the United flight departed Lagos at 11:59 p.m. local time Thursday (5:59 p.m. ET) and returned to Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 3:22 a.m. Friday (9:22 p.m. ET Thursday) after an emergency occurred “hours” into the journey.

United Airlines stated Saturday that Flight 613, carrying 245 passengers, eight crew members, and three pilots, safely returned to Lagos due to "a technical issue and an unexpected aircraft movement."

The airline said six people—four passengers and two flight attendants—were hospitalized with minor injuries. However, Nigeria's airports authority described the injuries as "serious," noting that the six were stabilized at local medical facilities before being transferred to Duchess Hospital in Ikeja.

Additionally, 27 passengers and five crew members sustained minor injuries. They received first aid and were released "immediately," according to the airports authority, which said its medical team, led by senior management staff, was prepared and in communication with the pilot before the aircraft landed.

“The medical team, along with firefighters, was present and ready on the ground,” the authority posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The aircraft did not suffer significant damage, the airports authority confirmed. Flight tracking data from FlightAware indicated the plane was airborne for 3 hours and 36 minutes.

The Federal Aviation Administration referred inquiries to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and United Airlines, stating that further information would come from those organizations.

United Airlines added that it is cooperating with authorities in Nigeria and the United States to determine the cause of the incident.