An Arik Air aircraft operating a domestic flight was forced to make an emergency landing at the Benin Airport on Wednesday after developing an engine fault mid-air, with all 80 passengers and crew members escaping unhurt.
The aircraft, a Boeing 737-700, was en route from Lagos to Port Harcourt when the incident occurred. Reports indicated that the flight crew noticed an abnormal noise from one of the aircraft’s engines while descending toward Port Harcourt, prompting the captain to divert the plane to Benin as a precautionary safety measure.
The aircraft landed safely at the Benin Airport, where passengers and crew were successfully evacuated without injuries. Arik Air later confirmed the incident, apologising to passengers for the disruption and assuring that alternative arrangements were made to transport them to their intended destination.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has since commenced an investigation into the incident. Preliminary findings revealed that the affected engine sustained significant damage, while aviation authorities commended the flight crew for adhering to established safety protocols.
Officials of the bureau have secured the aircraft and are currently analysing data and other relevant materials to determine the cause of the engine malfunction.
