Following misleading reports, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has clarified that the Unites Airlines incident of Friday January 24, 2025 did not occur within the Nigeria airspace.
The Agency said the clarification was become necessary to correct some unsubstantiated reports and analyses by certain aviation stakeholders that commented out of either inadequate information or misinformation.
It affirmed that flight UAL 613, a scheduled service from Lagos to Washington fulfilled all departure protocols in accordance with international aviation standards.
However, it said the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of altitude while over Côte d’Ivoire’s airspace and this resulted in an air return to the Nigerian airspace.
A statement from NAMA partly read: “We hereby wishes to address misleading reports regarding United Airlines flight UAL 613, which departed Lagos en route Washington Dulles with 256 passengers and 11 crew members on January 24, 2025.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the reported incident involving an air return in the Nigerian airspace did not occur within Nigeria’s airspace.
“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’Ivoire where he experienced the loss of altitude.”
The statement signed by the Agency’s Director Public Affairs/Consumer Protection, Abdullahi Musa, further explained that upon contact with the flight, the Air Traffic Controller (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,” the statement explained.
It also emphasised that the airline did not violated any airspace regulations and commended the pilot’s professionalism and judgment in prioritising the safety of everyone onboard.
The statement declared that NAMA remains committed to upholding the highest standards of airspace safety and ensuring that all operations adhere to international best practices.
It implored analysts to obtain authentic information from appropriate quarters before commenting on critical national issues.