A United Airlines aircraft made an emergency landing after the plane suddenly dropped in altitude, injuring multiple passengers and throwing food and belongings all over the cabin.
According to CNN, the flight departed Lagos, Nigeria, en route to Dulles International Airport in Washington DC. Flight 613 made a 'sudden movement' during travel, throwing objects across the plane. The incident prompted an emergency landing back in Lagos. A spokesperson for the airline also explained that six people were badly injured and taken to a nearby hospital. Fortunately, those injured have all since been discharged by emergency services.
Footage has quickly spread on social media showing the aftermath of the jolt.
A short video posted by @AfricanHub illustrates how severely the aircraft rocked midair. Passengers are seated but sound wary and panicked. There is debris all over the floor and down the aisle, including food and trays. There are also utensils, cups, and even a pair of headphones.
One person behind the passenger filming appears to gesture with their hand, and the camera pans to show how packed the cabin is with passengers. The CNN report explains that it's unclear what caused the incident, although authorities have not blamed turbulence.
The Incident Occurred Roughly 90 Minutes After The United Airlines Plane Took Off
According to the New York Post, the United Airlines flight 'suddenly plunged' 93 minutes into its journey. The outlet also notes that 245 passengers and 11 crew members were on board at the time. When the plane returned to Lagos, authorities reportedly counted seven crew members and 31 passengers injured.
A press release by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) revealed that the flight left Lagos at 11:59 Thursday night. It returned at 3:22 the following morning. The release also states that the pilot 'reported distress' at 1:20 am. Rescue teams were ready and on standby within four minutes. The press release concludes the aircraft itself did not sustain any major damage, and authorities are investigating.
Concerningly, the New York Post reports a similar incident occurred on the same aircraft on the same flight from Lagos to Washington DC on Tuesday. The outlet explains that FlightRadar's data shows a fast descent roughly 90 minutes into the flight, although it's unclear if the two incidents are related.
