11 February 2026
A Lagos–Port Harcourt bound Arik Air flight was forced to make an emergency diversion to Benin City on Wednesday after suffering significant engine damage mid-flight, triggering a swift safety response from the crew.
The aircraft, a Boeing 737-700 with registration number 5N-MJF, was operating Flight W3 740 from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos to the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, when the incident occurred during descent.
According to Arik Air spokesperson, Adebanjo Ola, the flight crew detected a loud and unusual bang from the aircraft’s left engine as it approached Port Harcourt airspace.
“As a precautionary measure, the crew immediately shut down the affected engine and diverted safely to Benin, in line with standard aviation safety procedures,” he explained.
The plane landed safely at Benin Airport, and all 80 passengers and crew members disembarked without injuries. The airline later issued an apology to passengers for the disruption, reaffirming that passenger safety remains its top priority.
However, further details released by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) revealed the situation was more serious than initially understood onboard. The agency confirmed the incident involved an in-flight engine anomaly caused by abnormal engine indications.
NSIB spokesperson Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji stated that preliminary inspections at the diversion airport showed significant damage to the affected engine based on early visual assessment.
Safety experts note that modern twin-engine aircraft like the Boeing 737-700 are designed with redundancy systems that allow them to continue flying safely even if one engine fails — a factor that played a critical role in preventing casualties.
The NSIB has deployed an investigative team to Benin to secure the aircraft, gather evidence, interview the crew, and retrieve flight data and cockpit voice recorders.
Authorities say a preliminary report is expected within 30 days, while a final report will be released after the full investigation is completed.
Although no injuries were recorded, the incident has renewed attention on aircraft maintenance oversight and operational safety within Nigeria’s domestic aviation sector.
— Reported by SUNTV Global Channel
