The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced on Monday that it is investigating an incident involving a United Airlines flight that experienced a sudden aircraft movement, resulting in injuries to passengers and crew.
The incident occurred on Friday aboard United Flight 613, a Boeing 787 traveling from Lagos, Nigeria, to Washington, D.C. The unexpected movement took place while the aircraft was flying through Ivory Coast airspace. Ivory Coast aviation officials delegated the investigation to the NTSB, which plans to release a preliminary report within 30 days.
United Airlines stated that the flight, carrying 245 passengers, three pilots, and eight flight attendants, returned to Lagos after encountering the abrupt movement and a technical issue. The aircraft landed safely, and four passengers, along with two flight attendants, were treated for minor injuries at a local hospital and later released.
“We are working with aviation authorities in the U.S. and Nigeria to determine the cause of the incident,” United Airlines said in a statement.
The NTSB’s investigation will examine the circumstances surrounding the incident, which has raised questions about safety protocols and technical operations during international flights.