By Chinelo Obogo
There was relief at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Thursday night as a United Airline Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 256 persons on board made an emergency landing.
The aircraft which operated flight UA613, departed Lagos at 23:59, en route to Dulles International Airport in Washington, DC. However, mid-flight, the aircraft experienced technical difficulties and declared an emergency, squawking the transponder code 7700.
The aircraft, carrying 245 passengers and 11 crew members, lost altitude abruptly and amid the confusion, the pilot announced the decision to return to Lagos.
At 03:22 local time, the plane landed safely back in Lagos and a team of Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS), Aviation Medical Services, and Aviation Security (AVSEC) from the Federal Airport Authority if Nigeria (FAAN) were already on standby at the gate when the aircraft parked for deboarding at D31.
Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of FAAN, Obiageli Orah, confirmed that four passengers and two crew members sustained serious injuries, while 27 passengers and five crew members had minor injuries, making it a total of 38 persons. The rescue team responded swiftly, having been on alert just four minutes after the pilot reported distress at 01:20.
Injured passengers were transported by Aviation Medical ambulances to the MMA Clinic and the Headquarters Clinic. Those with minor injuries received first aid and were discharged immediately, while those with serious injuries were stabilised and transferred to a hospital in Ikeja. Some passengers were also taken to a hotel for accommodation.
The aircraft itself did not sustain any major damage. FAAN assured that updates would be provided as they become available.