An Arik Air flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt was forced to divert to Benin on Wednesday after the crew reported hearing a loud bang from one of the aircraft’s engines during descent.
The airline said its Boeing 737-700 aircraft, with registration 5N-MJF, operating flight W3 740 on February 11, 2026, made a precautionary diversion to Benin Airport following the incident.
In a statement, Arik Air explained that the aircraft was descending into Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, when the operating crew heard “a loud bang on the left engine.”
The airline said the crew acted in line with safety procedures.
“As a precautionary measure, the crew had to make a safe diversion to Benin,” the statement said.
Arik Air confirmed that there were no injuries to either passengers or crew members, noting that all 80 passengers on board were safely disembarked after the aircraft landed in Benin.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched an investigation into the incident and later described it as involving significant damage to the affected engine.
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