Arik Air’s Boeing 737-700 (5N MJF) aircraft operating flight W3 740 from Lagos to Port Harcourt on Wednesday, diverted to Benin Airport after the operating crew heard a loud bang on the left engine, spokesperson for the airline, Adebanji Ola has said.
He said in a statement that the aircraft was on its decent to Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa when the incident happened and as a precautionary measure, the crew had to make a safe diversion to Benin.
“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.
” We sincerely apologise to the affected Port Harcourt passengers whose journey has been disrupted. The safety and wellbeing of passengers is always our priority at Arik Air.”, he added.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has confirmed that an Arik Air Boeing 737-7GL aircraft, registration 5N-MJF, operating a scheduled domestic flight from Lagos (LOS) to Port Harcourt (PHC) earlier on Wednesday experienced an in-flight engine anomaly and diverted safely to Benin Airport (BNI), saying it has begun investigation.
A statement by Mrs Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, said during the cruise phase of flight, the crew detected abnormal indications on one of the engine, adding that in accordance with established safety procedures, the flight crew conducted a precautionary engine shutdown and diverted to the nearest suitable airport, Benin.
It added that the aircraft landed without incident, and all passengers and crew disembarked normally.
“No injuries have been reported. Preliminary observations at the diversion airport indicate significant damage to the affected engine based on initial visual assessment.
“In line with its statutory mandate and in accordance with international standards under ICAO Annex 13 and applicable Nigerian civil aviation regulations, the NSIB has commenced an investigation into the occurrence. A preliminary assessment team is en route to Benin to secure the aircraft, document evidence, interview relevant personnel and witnesses, and recover flight data and cockpit voice recorder information.
“The NSIB is working closely with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Arik Air, and other relevant stakeholders to determine the sequence of events and any contributing factors.
” A Preliminary Report will be issued within 30 days in accordance with ICAO Annex 13 provisions. A Final Report will be published at the conclusion of the investigation.
“The safety of passengers, crew, and the public remains our highest priority. The NSIB encourages any member of the public with relevant information regarding this occurrence to contact the Bureau through its official channels.”, it said.
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