The incident occurred over Côte d’Ivoire’s airspace, not Nigeria’s, contrary to widespread speculation. Although the flight crew had options to land in Bamako or Abidjan, they chose to return to Lagos based on the pilot’s assessment of safety and operational considerations.

BY ANTHONY OMOH

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has confirmed that the reported United Airlines flight UAL 613 air return incident did not occur within Nigerian airspace. This clarification addresses misleading claims regarding the flight’s emergency return to Lagos on January 24, 2025.

Flight UAL 613 departed Lagos for Washington Dulles with 256 passengers and 11 crew members, following all standard departure protocols. In a statement, NAMA’s Director of Public Affairs, Abdullahi Musa, emphasized that the aircraft complied with international aviation regulations before experiencing a sudden loss of altitude approximately two hours and 32 minutes into its journey. The incident occurred over Côte d’Ivoire’s airspace, not Nigeria’s, contrary to widespread speculation. Although the flight crew had options to land in Bamako or Abidjan, they chose to return to Lagos based on the pilot’s assessment of safety and operational considerations.

Upon receiving distress communication from the aircraft, NAMA’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) swiftly activated emergency response procedures. The Lagos Area Control Centre established contact with the flight 180 nautical miles from Lagos and guided it safely back to Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Medical personnel and emergency responders were on standby to assist passengers and crew upon landing.

To ensure seamless onward travel, United Airlines dispatched another aircraft from Accra to Lagos to transport affected passengers. NAMA clarified that the arriving aircraft was strictly a rescue flight and not intended for any other operational purpose. The agency commended the pilot’s professionalism and decision-making, highlighting his prioritization of passenger safety.

NAMA reaffirmed that United Airlines had not violated any airspace regulations and reiterated its commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards. The agency urged stakeholders to seek verified information before making public statements on critical aviation matters. NAMA reassured air travelers of the safety and integrity of Nigerian airspace, emphasizing its dedication to transparency and operational excellence.