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

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 US National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a United Airlines Holdings Inc. flight that turned back to Nigeria after a “sudden aircraft movement” occurred, injuring passengers and crew.

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.

Six people were taken to hospital with injuries but have been discharged, United Airlines said.

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

A United Airlines flight from Nigeria to Washington experienced a sudden jolt, dropping 185 feet and injuring six people seriously. United said it was a "technical issue". U.S. and Nigerian authorities are investigating.

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

It is unclear what caused the jolt; United Airlines has said the cause was not severe turbulence, and that it is “working with aviation authorities in the US and Nigeria to understand the cause.”

The authorities in Nigeria said that the United Airlines plane had to return to Lagos after the episode. Six people were treated at a hospital, officials said.

Domestic airlines spend scarce forex on repairing their planes outside Nigeria, but some players are beginning to set up local