Arik Air Plane Makes Emergency Landing After Mid-Air Engine Fault

Arik Air's Boeing 737-7GL aircraft encountered a flight engine problem mid-air while operating a domestic flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed the incident and stated that the aircraft, with registration number 5N-MJF, had to divert and land safely at Benin Airport without any incidents.

The NSIB disclosed that the flight crew noticed abnormal engine indications during the cruise phase of the journey, prompting them to follow safety protocols. As a precaution, the affected engine was shut down, and the aircraft safely landed at Benin Airport, where passengers and crew disembarked without any injuries.

Preliminary observations by the NSIB indicated significant damage to the engine, leading to the dispatch of an assessment team to gather relevant evidence. The NSIB is working closely with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Arik Air, and key stakeholders to investigate the sequence of events and identify contributing factors to prevent similar incidents in the future.