Passengers on an Arik Air flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt faced tense moments on Wednesday.
The aircraft was forced to make an emergency diversion after a loud bang was heard mid-air.
The Arik Air engine incident occurred while the plane was descending into Port Harcourt. However, the crew acted quickly and diverted the aircraft to Benin Airport as a safety measure.
All 80 passengers and crew members were safely evacuated after landing. No injuries were reported, despite what officials later described as significant engine damage.
The aircraft, a Boeing 737-700 with registration number 5N-MJF, departed from Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.
It was heading to Port Harcourt International Airport in Omagwa, Rivers State, when the problem occurred.
Arik Air spokesperson, Adebanjo Ola, confirmed the development in a statement. He said, “The aircraft was on its descent to Port Harcourt when the operating crew heard a loud bang on the left engine. As a precautionary measure, the crew made a safe diversion to Benin.”
The airline reassured passengers that safety remains its top priority. Moreover, it confirmed that arrangements were made to transport affected travelers to their final destination.
“There were no injuries to passengers and crew as all 80 passengers on board were safely disembarked. Arrangements have been made to transport the affected passengers to their final destination,” the airline stated.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched a full probe into the Arik Air engine incident. The bureau confirmed that the flight experienced what it described as an engine anomaly during the journey.
NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Bimbo Oladeji, explained the sequence of events. She said unusual signs were detected on one engine, which led to a shutdown.
“In accordance with established safety procedures, the flight crew conducted a precautionary engine shutdown and diverted to the nearest suitable airport, Benin. The aircraft landed without incident, and all passengers and crew disembarked normally. No injuries have been reported,” she stated.
“A preliminary assessment team is en route to Benin to secure the aircraft, document evidence, interview relevant personnel and witnesses, and recover flight data and cockpit voice recorder information,” NSIB said.
Furthermore, the bureau disclosed that initial checks showed major engine damage. The damage was identified through visual inspection after landing.
