An Arik Air Boeing 737-700 operating a Lagos–Port Harcourt flight made an emergency diversion to Benin Airport on Wednesday after the crew detected what the airline described as a loud bang in one of the aircraft’s engines. All 80 passengers and crew were evacuated safely.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau later described the incident as involving “significant damage” to the affected engine.
The airline’s spokesperson, Adebanjo Ola, said in a statement that the aircraft, with registration 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 said the crew heard a loud bang from the left engine while the aircraft was descending into Port Harcourt, prompting them to take precautionary action.
He said, “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.”
Arik Air said all 80 passengers and crew members on board were safely evacuated after the aircraft landed in Benin, adding that no injuries were recorded.
