80 passengers escape death at Benin airport

There was pandemonium when an Arik Air Boeing 737-700 operating a Lagos–Port Harcourt flight made an emergency diversion to Benin Airport in Benin City on Wednesday.

The incident was discovered after the crew detected what the airline described as a loud bang in one of the aircraft’s engines.

The incident caused “significant damage” to the affected engine, according to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau.

The airline’s spokesperson, Adebanjo Ola, said in a statement that the aircraft, maarked 5N-MJF, was operating flight W3 740 from the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, to the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, when the incident occurred.

He revealed that the crew heard a loud bang from the left engine while the aircraft was descending into Port Harcourt, prompting them to take precautionary action.

He said, “The aircraft was on its descent to Port Harcourt when the operating crew heard a loud bang on the left engine. As a precautionary measure, the crew made a safe diversion to Benin.”

Arik Air said all 80 passengers and crew members on board were safely evacuated after the aircraft landed in Benin, adding that no injuries were recorded.

“There were no injuries to passengers and crew as all 80 passengers on board were safely disembarked. Arrangements have been made to transport the affected passengers to their final destination,” the statement added.

The airline apologised for the disruption, assuring passengers that safety remained its priority.

“We sincerely apologise to the affected Port Harcourt passengers whose journey has been disrupted. The safety and well-being of passengers is always our priority at Arik Air,” he said.

The Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance at the NSIB, Mrs Bimbo Oladeji, who also confirmed the incident to The Punch, admitted that the aircraft experienced an in-flight engine fault.