Why United Airlines chose Lagos over closer airports for emergency landing
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has clarified why the United Airlines flight chose to return to Lagos after experiencing a sudden loss of altitude despite being closer to alternative landing locations.
The flight, which departed Lagos for Washington Dulles International Airport in the United States
on January 24 carrying 245 passengers and 11 crew members, encountered a technical issue while within Côte d’Ivoire’s airspace.
In a statement on Wednesday, Abdullahi Musa, NAMA’s director of public affairs and consumer protection, said the decision to return to Nigeria was made by the pilot based on his assessment of the situation and the perceived safety of landing at the departure airport.
“Approximately 2 hours and 32 minutes after departure, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of altitude while over Côte d’Ivoire’s airspace. Despite having the option to land in Bamako or Abidjan, the pilot, based on his prerogative and assessment of the situation, decided to return to Nigeria, being the origin of the flight and where he probably considered safer for him to make a landing rather than Bamako or Cote d’Ivoire where he experienced the loss of altitude,” Musa said.
He said the clarification was necessary in response to speculative reports and inaccurate analyses by certain aviation experts, which he said were based on misinformation or lack of sufficient knowledge about the incident.
‘UNITED AIRLINES FULFILLED ALL DEPARTURE PROTOCOLS’
Musa said United Airlines had complied with all international aviation protocols.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the reported incident involving an air return in the Nigerian airspace did not occur within Nigeria’s airspace. Flight UAL 613, a scheduled service from Lagos to Washington fulfilled all departure protocols by international aviation standards,” the director said.
“Upon contact with the flight, ATC activated medical emergency services as requested by the pilot and also as required by laid down industry procedures. All hands were on deck to receive the aircraft on landing. Lagos Area Control Centre picked the flight 180 nautical miles from Lagos.
“It activated a medical emergency stand-by and guided the flight to a safe landing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
“Upon arrival, emergency protocols were immediately activated by NAMA’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) and ground medical teams, ensuring the safety of all passengers and crew onboard.
“Another aircraft belonging to the airline flew to Lagos from Accra to rescue the passengers having received treatment from the Nigerian medical personnel. Contrary to insinuations this aircraft from Ghana was strictly on a rescue mission and nothing more.”
He further reassured that the airline had not violated any airspace regulations and commended the pilot for his professionalism in prioritising passenger safety.
The director assured that NAMA remains committed to upholding the highest standards of airspace safety and ensuring that all operations adhere to international best practices.
On January 28, the United States (US) National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it was investigating the United Airlines flight mishap.
