An Arik Air flight en route Lagos to Port Harcourt was forced to divert to Benin City on Wednesday following an unusual engine occurrence mid-flight.
The Boeing 737-700 aircraft, operating as flight W3-740 with registration number 5N-MJF, was on descent into the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, when the flight crew reportedly noticed an abnormal noise from the left engine.
In a statement issued by the airline, Arik Air explained that the diversion was carried out as a safety precaution in line with standard operational procedures.
“All 80 passengers and crew members on board were safely evacuated upon landing in Benin. No injuries were recorded, and alternative arrangements have been made to convey passengers to Port Harcourt,” the airline said.
Arik Air also apologised to travellers affected by the disruption, reaffirming that passenger safety remains its foremost priority.
The incident was also confirmed by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, which classified it as an in-flight engine anomaly.
According to the bureau’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs Bimbo Oladeji, flight crew members detected irregular engine indications during the journey and proceeded to shut down the affected engine as a precaution before diverting to Benin Airport.
“The aircraft landed safely without further complications, and all occupants disembarked normally,” Oladeji stated, adding that no injuries were reported.
She disclosed that a preliminary visual inspection at the diversion airport revealed substantial damage to the affected engine.
“In accordance with its statutory responsibilities and international aviation safety standards under ICAO Annex 13, the NSIB has launched a formal investigation into the incident,” she said.
Oladeji further noted that an investigative team is on its way to Benin to secure the aircraft, collect evidence, interview crew members and witnesses, and retrieve both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder.
She added that the bureau is collaborating with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Arik Air, and other relevant stakeholders to establish the sequence of events and determine contributing factors.
“A preliminary report will be released within 30 days, while a final report will be issued upon completion of the investigation,” she said.
The NSIB encouraged members of the public with relevant information to reach out through its official communication channels, assuring that further updates would be provided as the investigation progresses.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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