Passenger who died on United Airlines flight identified

HOUSTON – Authorities are investigating the death of a 67-year-old passenger on a United Airlines flight.

Houston police said the passenger, Benedict Sylvester Igwedike, of Lagos, Nigeria, died on board United flight 143 Tuesday morning.

The flight arrived from Lagos, Nigeria to Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport Tuesday morning.

Houston police said Mr. Igwedike passed away shortly after the flight departed Nigeria. The flight was then rerouted to Dakar, Senegal and after refueling, authorities in Senegal rerouted the flight to Houston. 

Police are awaiting autopsy results to determine Mr. Igwedike's official cause of death.

A spokesperson with United said, "We are assisting the passenger's family with their needs."