A United Airlines flight from Lagos to Washington Dulles International Airport declared an emergency on Thursday and made an air return to Lagos.
The Boeing 787-8, registered as N27903, was carrying 245 passengers, eight flight attendants, and three pilots when the incident occurred. According to reports, the aircraft’s crew activated the emergency transponder code 7700, signaling an emergency to the control tower, and maintained the code until landing.
Videos and pictures shared by distressed passengers showed food and luggage scattered across the cabin, indicating the turbulence and chaos during the flight. Some passengers reportedly sustained injuries, although the extent of these injuries remains unclear.
The exact cause of the emergency is yet to be determined, but passengers speculated that it might be an engine-related issue. The over 13-year-old widebody aircraft, owned by United Airlines, was initially bound for Washington Dulles before the emergency forced it to return.
