Thirty-three persons aboard a US-bound United Airlines Boeing 787 – 800 aircraft were confirmed injured after the plane made an emergency landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
Six of the injury cases were said to be serious, and two of them were crew members.
The plane had taken off from the airport at 11.59 pm, on Thursday only to make an air return after three hours and a few minutes following a technical problem.
Two hundred and fifty-six persons were on board,11 of whom were crew members.
All were de-boarded as soon as the plane touched down safely.
Spokesperson of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Obiageli Orah, said the organisation’s Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS), Aviation Medical and Aviation Security (AVSEC) were fully mobilised by the time the aircraft parked for de-boarding at D31 without incident.
“The aircraft door opened at 03:37 am. While all passengers and crew disembarked safely, four passengers and two crew members sustained serious injuries, and an additional 27 passengers and five crew members had minor injuries,” Orah said.
“The rescue team responded swiftly and effectively, having been on alert and standby just four minutes after the pilot reported distress at 01:20.
“Aviation Medical ambulances transported the injured passengers—some to the MMA Clinic and others to the Headquarters Clinic.
“Those with minor injuries received first aid and were discharged immediately, while those with serious injuries were stabilised and transferred to the Duchess Hospital in Ikeja.
“Some passengers were also taken to a hotel for accommodation. The aircraft itself did not sustain any major damage.”
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