Arik Air 737 With 80 Onboard Diverts To Benin After In-Flight Engine Shutdown SEO DES: Flight W3‑740 (5N‑MJF) experienced a loud bang from the left engine while descending toward Port Harcourt prompting the pilots to shut it down & divert safely SOCIAL: An Arik Air Boeing 737‑700 operating from Lagos to Port Harcourt made an emergency diversion to Benin City after the crew detected a serious engine issue. Flight W3‑740 (5N‑MJF) experienced a loud bang from the left engine while descending toward Port Harcourt, prompting the pilots to shut it down and divert safely. All 80 passengers and crew disembarked without injuries. Arik Air confirmed that the crew followed safety procedures and arranged onward travel for affected passengers. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched a formal investigation, with a preliminary report expected within 30 days. Image: Biggerben (Wikimedia) Video: Deccan Chronicle 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.
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Arik Air 737 With 80 Onboard Diverts To Benin After In-Flight Engine Shutdown

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Benin City, Nigeria: An Arik Air Boeing 737‑700 operating a domestic service from Lagos to Port Harcourt made an emergency […]