A United Airlines flight bound for Washington, D.C., was forced to return to Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos on Tuesday following a medical emergency involving a passenger.
Flight UA613 departed Lagos at approximately 12:10 a.m. but was forced to turn back when 64-year-old passenger Omokhdion Leslie suffered a seizure about 20-30 minutes into the journey. Despite on-board medical assistance, Leslie failed to respond to treatment.
The flight captain announced over the intercom for any medical personnel aboard to identify themselves and assist the affected passenger. When Leslie’s condition did not improve after approximately 30 minutes of intervention, the captain made the decision to return to Lagos, citing passenger safety as the airline’s top priority.
“The pilot in command promptly announced that the aircraft would return to Lagos due to a medical emergency. Safety is the airline’s top priority,” an anonymous passenger told reporters.
The aircraft touched down safely at Lagos at approximately 2:23-2:26 a.m., where medical personnel were immediately dispatched on board. Leslie was quickly attended to and transported to a nearby hospital for further medical treatment.
Following the emergency landing, the flight was subsequently cancelled due to crew timeout regulations, which limit the maximum duty hours for cockpit and cabin staff to ensure passenger safety. The remaining passengers were deboarded and provided hotel accommodation while awaiting rescheduling arrangements.
United Airlines has not yet provided details on the next available flight for affected passengers, but emphasized that the safety and well-being of all travelers remains its highest priority.
The incident highlights the importance of in-flight safety protocols and the procedures airlines have in place for handling medical emergencies during flights.
