The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has clarified details surrounding the incident involving United Airlines flight UAL 613, dispelling misinformation and reassuring the public about the safety of Nigerian airspace.
The flight, which departed from Lagos on January 24, 2025, en route to Washington Dulles, encountered an unexpected loss of altitude while flying over Côte d’Ivoire’s airspace approximately two hours and 32 minutes into its journey. Despite having the option to land in Bamako, Mali, or Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, the pilot made the judgment call to return to Lagos, where he believed a landing would be safer and better facilitated.
Upon being informed of the situation, Nigerian air traffic controllers immediately activated emergency protocols. The Lagos Area Control Centre picked up the aircraft’s signal 180 nautical miles from Lagos, guiding it safely back to Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Emergency medical teams were on standby, and all passengers and crew members—256 passengers and 11 crew in total—were safely received.
A relief aircraft was dispatched from Accra, Ghana, to Lagos to transport the passengers to their final destination. NAMA has clarified that this aircraft was solely for rescue purposes and not for any operational violations.
The agency commended the United Airlines pilot for his professionalism and adherence to international safety procedures. “We emphasize that the airline has not violated any airspace regulations,” said Abdullahi Musa, Director of Public Affairs/Consumer Protection at NAMA. “NAMA remains committed to upholding the highest standards of airspace safety.”
NAMA also urged aviation analysts and the public to seek accurate information from official sources before spreading unverified reports that may cause unnecessary concern among travelers.
The incident highlights the efficiency of emergency response systems in Nigerian aviation and reinforces confidence in the nation’s airspace safety.
