In a statement on Wednesday, Abdullahi Musa, NAMA’s director of public affairs and consumer protection, said the decision to return to Nigeria was made by the pilot based on his assessment of the situation and the perceived safety of landing at the departure airport.

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has explained why United Airlines chose to make an air return to Nigeria.

A United Airlines flight from Africa to Washington D.C. had to turn around on Thursday after a "technical issue" caused "unexpected aircraft movement," the airline said.

In an update, Nigerian officials said an additional 27 passengers and 5 crew members suffered minor injuries in the incident. In all, 38 were hurt.

A United Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing in Lagos, Nigeria due to a midair incident causing loss of pressure and sharp descents.

Six people were injured on a flight from Nigeria to Virginia. The airline also saw a series technical issues in March.

United Airlines said it was cooperating with U.S. and Nigerian investigators to determine what exactly happened on the flight.

The plane headed back to Nigeria after experiencing "unexpected movement" mid-flight on Friday, Jan. 24, according to multiple reports

A report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has revealed that African airlines’ annual traffic rose 13.2 per cent in 2024 compared to the previous year. The report however put the total full-year traffic in 2024 (measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPKs) at 10.

About 30 bodies have been removed from the wreckage caused by a mid-air crash between a passenger plane and a helicopter in Washington. The incident occurred early Thursday morning on the Potomac River in Washington, near Ronald Reagan National Airport.

Tinubu's message comes as the United States grapples with the aftermath of the shocking aviation disaster that saw an American Airlines passenger jet collide with a military helicopter, resulting in significant loss of life.