Anxiety as Arik Aircraft Engine Explodes Mid-Air [PHOTO]

On Wednesday morning, passengers on an Arik Air flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt experienced significant anxiety when the aircraft encountered an engine issue mid-flight, necessitating an emergency diversion to Benin City.

The Boeing 737-700, registered as 5N-MJF, was operating Flight W3 740 and was in descent toward Port Harcourt International Airport in Omagwa when the flight crew reported hearing a loud bang originating from the left engine.

Adhering to established safety protocols, the pilots promptly redirected the flight to the nearest airport as a precautionary measure.

The aircraft landed safely at Benin Airport, and all 80 passengers and crew members were able to disembark without incident or injury. Arik Air confirmed that arrangements were made to transport the affected passengers to their final destination in Port Harcourt.

In a public statement, Adebanji Ola, the Public Relations and Communications Manager for Arik Air, expressed apologies for the disruption caused by the incident and reiterated the airline’s commitment to prioritizing passenger safety.

“The safety and wellbeing of passengers is always our priority at Arik Air. We sincerely apologise to the affected Port Harcourt passengers whose journey has been disrupted,” the statement read.