An Arik Air passenger flight from Nigeria’s Lagos to Port Harcourt was forced to make an emergency landing in West Africa’s Benin Airport after one of its engines failed mid-air shortly after take-off. Passengers aboard the domestic flight captured dramatic footage of the engine failure.

The Arik Air flight, a Boeing 737-7GL operating as W3 740, had departed from Lagos for Port Harcourt with 80 passengers on board when its left engine malfunctioned shortly after take-off. According to the airline, crew members heard a loud bang in the early phase of the flight and immediately activated emergency procedures.

Despite the engine failure, the aircraft continued safely on a single engine and was diverted to Benin, where it landed without incident. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew.

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‘In-flight engine anomaly’

Nigeria’s Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed that the aircraft experienced an “in-flight engine anomaly.” In a statement, the agency said a preliminary assessment team had been dispatched to Benin to secure the aircraft, collect evidence, interview crew and witnesses and retrieve data from the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder.

The NSIB added that it is working closely with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and Arik Air to determine the cause of the failure and identify any contributing factors.

Airline issues apology to passengers

Arik Air apologised for the disruption caused to passengers travelling to Port Harcourt. “We sincerely apologise to the affected passengers. The safety and well-being of our customers remain our highest priority,” a spokesperson said.

The incident has renewed attention on recent in-flight engine emergencies involving commercial aircraft. Investigations into the Arik Air incident are ongoing.