BENIN CITY, Nigeria – An Arik Air Boeing 737-700 carrying 80 passengers was forced to make an emergency diversion to Benin Airport on Wednesday morning following a major engine malfunction mid-flight.
Flight W3740, which departed from Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos en route to Port Harcourt, was during its descent phase when passengers and crew reported hearing a “loud bang” emanating from the aircraft’s left wing.
Upon hearing the noise and observing abnormal engine indications, the flight crew followed standard emergency protocols and successfully executed a precautionary shutdown of the left engine.
The pilots diverted the aircraft to the nearest suitable landing site, Benin Airport, where the plane touched down safely at approximately 10:30 AM local time.
- Aircraft: Boeing 737-700 (Registration: 5N-MJF)
- Status: All 80 passengers and crew members disembarked safely; no injuries reported.
- Outcome: Arik Air confirmed that alternative travel arrangements were being made to transport the stranded passengers to their final destination in Port Harcourt.
Significant Damage Reported
Preliminary visual inspections conducted on the tarmac in Benin revealed substantial damage to the left engine. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has officially classified the occurrence as an “in-flight engine anomaly” and has launched a full-scale investigation.
