By Chinelo Obogo
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), has said that the United Airlines flight UAL 613, which departed Lagos en route Washington Dulles with 256 passengers and 11 crew members on January 24th, 2025, didn’t occur within Nigeria’s airspace.
NAMA’s Director for Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Abdullahi Musa, said in a statement that this clarification has become necessary owing to ‘unsubstantiated reports’ borne out of misinformation.
He said: “Flight UAL 613, a scheduled service from Lagos to Washington fulfilled all departure protocols in accordance with international aviation standards. Approximately two 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’ivorie where he experienced the loss of altitude.
“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 by the Nigerian medical personnel. Contrary to insinuations this aircraft from Ghana was strictly on a rescue mission and nothing more.”