Arik Air Flight Lands Safely in Benin After Mid-Air Emergency Scare
An Arik Air Boeing 737 operating a Lagos to Port Harcourt flight made an emergency diversion to Benin Airport after the crew heard a loud bang from one of the engines.
The incident happened while the aircraft was descending toward Port Harcourt, prompting the pilots to take precautionary action.
The crew shut down the affected engine and redirected the flight to Benin, where it landed safely without further complications.
All 80 passengers and crew members on board were safely evacuated after landing, and no injuries were reported.
The airline said arrangements were made to transport the affected passengers to their final destination and apologised for the disruption.
According to the airline, safety remains its top priority in all operations.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau confirmed that the aircraft experienced an in-flight engine anomaly.
Officials said abnormal indications were noticed on one of the engines, leading to the precautionary shutdown and diversion.
Initial checks at the airport showed visible damage to the affected engine.
The bureau has deployed an assessment team to Benin to secure the aircraft and gather evidence for investigation.
Investigators are expected to examine the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder as part of the probe.
The agency said a preliminary report will be released within 30 days, while a final report will follow at the end of the investigation.
Authorities said the investigation is being conducted in line with international aviation safety standards.