By Micah Jonah, February 11, 2026
An Arik Air Boeing 737 700 operating a Lagos to Port Harcourt flight made an emergency diversion to Benin Airport on Wednesday after the crew detected a loud bang in one of the aircraft’s engines.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau described the incident as involving significant damage to the affected engine.
According to the airline’s spokesperson, Adebanjo Ola, the aircraft with registration number 5N MJF was operating flight W3 740 from the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, to the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, when the incident occurred.
He explained that the crew heard a loud bang from the left engine while the aircraft was descending into Port Harcourt, prompting immediate precautionary measures.
“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,” he said.
Arik Air confirmed that all 80 passengers and crew members on board were safely evacuated after landing in Benin, with no injuries recorded.
“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.
The airline apologized to passengers for the disruption, assuring them that safety remains its top priority.
Confirming the development, the Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance at the NSIB, Mrs Bimbo Oladeji, said the aircraft experienced an in flight engine anomaly.
She stated that abnormal indications were detected on one of the engines during the flight, leading to a precautionary engine shutdown and diversion to Benin, where the aircraft landed without incident.
“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 said.
The bureau disclosed that it had commenced a full investigation in line with its statutory mandate and international standards under ICAO Annex 13.
Preliminary observations at the diversion airport indicated significant damage to the affected engine based on an initial visual assessment.
The NSIB added that a preliminary assessment team had been deployed to Benin to secure the aircraft, document evidence, interview relevant personnel and witnesses, and recover flight data and cockpit voice recorder information.
A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, while a final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation.
