Eighty passengers and crew members narrowly escaped a potential disaster on Wednesday when an Arik Air Boeing 737-700 aircraft was forced to make an emergency diversion to Benin Airport following a severe engine malfunction during its descent.
The aircraft, registered as 5N-MJF, was operating flight W3 740 from Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, to the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, when the crew detected a critical anomaly.
According to a statement issued by Arik Air’s spokesperson, Adebanjo Ola, the flight crew was forced to take immediate precautionary measures after a “loud bang” emanated from the left engine while the aircraft was preparing for its arrival in Port Harcourt.
“As a precautionary measure, the crew made a safe diversion to Benin after hearing a loud bang on the left engine during descent,” Mr Ola stated. He confirmed that the aircraft landed safely at Benin Airport and that all 80 passengers on board, alongside the crew, disembarked without injury. The airline has since made alternative arrangements to transport the affected passengers to their final destination in Rivers State.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has officially launched an inquiry into the incident. Mrs Bimbo Oladeji, the Bureau’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, explained that the aircraft experienced abnormal indications on one of its engines, necessitating a precautionary engine shutdown in flight.
“Preliminary observations at the diversion airport indicate significant damage to the affected engine based on initial visual assessment,” the Bureau noted in its initial briefing.
In accordance with international standards under ICAO Annex 13, the NSIB has deployed a preliminary assessment team to Benin. The investigators are tasked with securing the aircraft, documenting physical evidence, and interviewing the flight crew and witnesses.
Furthermore, the Bureau has retrieved the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR)—commonly referred to as the “black boxes”—to provide a definitive account of the mechanical failure.
Arik Air has expressed its sincere apologies to the passengers for the disruption, reiterating that the safety of its clientele remains its paramount concern. The NSIB expects to release a preliminary report within 30 days, with a comprehensive final report to follow upon the conclusion of the technical analysis.
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