CITIZENS COMPASS— No fewer than eighty passengers scampered for safety on Wednesday, when an Arik Air flight made an emergency landing.
The aircraft was traveling from Lagos to Port Harcourt in Rivers State when the emergency was recorded when it developed an engine fault.
Fortunately, all the passengers survived.
Confirming the emergency, spokesperson, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Olawumi Oladeji, said the aircraft experienced an engine anomaly during the cruise phase of the flight. In line with safety procedures, the crew shut down the affected engine as a precaution and diverted to the nearest suitable airport in Benin.
Oladeji said the aircraft landed without incident and that preliminary visual assessment indicated significant damage to the affected engine.
The Bureau has commenced an investigation in line with ICAO Annex 13 and Nigerian civil aviation regulations. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, while a final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation.
The NSIB assured the public that passenger safety remains its top priority and urged anyone with relevant information to contact the agency through its official channels.
The airline confirmed that the Boeing 737-700 aircraft, registered 5N-MJF and operating Flight W3 740, was descending into Port Harcourt International Airport when the crew heard a loud bang from the left engine.
According to Arik Air, all 80 passengers and crew members disembarked safely, with no injuries recorded.
