WASHINGTON (TMX) – Nearly 40 people were injured when a Boeing 787-800 plane suddenly lost altitude during a United Airlines flight from Lagos, Nigeria, to Washington, D.C., early Friday, officials said.
United Airlines Flight 613 departed Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos shortly before midnight on Thursday. About 93 minutes later, a sudden descent sent baggage, belongings, trays of food and other items flying around the cabin, according to video shared on social media.
There were 245 passengers and 11 crew on board, according to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria. After returning to Lagos and landing safely at around 3:22 a.m. Friday, four passengers and two crew members were hospitalized with serious injuries and later released. Another 27 passengers and five crew members reported minor injuries.
United Airlines said the aircraft returned to Lagos to “address a technical issue.” The airline said the sudden descent was not caused by …