By Ghazali Ibrahim
On Wednesday, February 11, 2026, an Arik Air Boeing 737-700 aircraft was forced to divert and make an emergency landing at Benin Airport after the crew detected a loud bang and engine issue during its descent toward Port Harcourt International Airport.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed the precautionary landing and said all 80 passengers and crew disembarked safely without injuries.
The flight, operating as W3-740 from Lagos to Port Harcourt, was diverted to the nearest suitable airport after pilots heard unusual noise and abnormal engine indications from the left engine late into the journey. Following aviation safety protocols, the crew shut down the affected engine and redirected the aircraft to Benin, where it landed without further incident.
NSIB spokesperson Mrs. Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji said preliminary visual assessments at Benin Airport indicated significant damage to the affected engine, and a formal investigation has now been launched to determine the cause of the anomaly. Teams are gathering flight data, interviewing crew and witnesses, and documenting evidence as part of the inquiry.
Arik Air also issued a statement confirming the diversion and emphasising that passenger safety was the airline’s top priority. The carrier arranged onward transportation for the affected travellers, apologising for the inconvenience caused by the disruption.
