Benin City, Nigeria: An Arik Air Boeing 737‑700 operating a domestic service from Lagos to Port Harcourt made an emergency diversion to Benin Airport on Wednesday after the flight crew detected a serious engine issue.
The aircraft, registered 5N‑MJF and operating as Flight W3‑740, was descending toward Port Harcourt International Airport when pilots heard a loud bang from the left engine, prompting an immediate precautionary response. In accordance with established safety protocols, the crew shut down the affected engine and diverted to the nearest suitable airport in Benin, where the plane landed safely without further incident.
All 80 passengers and crew members disembarked normally after the precautionary landing, with no injuries reported. Arik Air said it has arranged onward transportation for affected travellers and reiterated that passenger safety remains the airline’s top priority.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Arik Air’s spokesperson confirmed that the crew acted quickly and in line with safety procedures after detecting abnormal engine indications mid‑flight. Efforts are under way to support passengers whose journeys were disrupted by the diversion.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) announced that it has formally launched an investigation into the occurrence, which has been classified as an in‑flight engine anomaly. The agency said preliminary visual checks at Benin Airport showed significant damage to the affected engine, though detailed analysis is ongoing.
NSIB officials said a team of investigators is being deployed to Benin to secure the aircraft, collect critical evidence, interview crew members and witnesses, and recover the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, with a final report published once the inquiry is complete.
