An Arik Air flight carrying 80 passengers made an emergency landing at Benin Airport after one of its engines exploded mid-air, causing severe damage and leaving those on board terrified. A video of the incident has since gone viral, showing the aircraft’s descent with a shredded outer shell of the engine.
Boeing Passenger Plane Diverts After Mid-Air Engine Explosion
The incident occurred on Wednesday morning on a Boeing 737-700 aircraft flying from Lagos to Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The flight operating as Flight W3 740 left Murtala Muhammed Airport at 7:24 AM local time, reaching an altitude of about 27,000 feet, when the crew on board heard a loud bang on the left engine. The flight was carrying 80 passengers and crew members when its left engine exploded shortly after taking off.
According to an official statement from the airline, the plane was diverted to Benin Airport, where it landed safely at approximately 8:05 AM, with emergency services on standby, NDTV reported.
Viral Video Shows Jet Engine Shredded After Mid-Air Explosion
A video recorded from the ground has since gone viral, showing the aircraft landing at the Benin Airport with severe structural damage to its number one engine. The footage reveals the engine's metal cowling torn away, exposing the inner machinery and fan blades. The video highlights the severity of a mid-air explosion.
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What Did Arik Air Say?
Following the incident, the airline, Arik Air, apologised for the disruption and confirmed that alternative arrangements were made to transport passengers to their destination, Port Harcourt International Airport.
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"The safety and well-being of passengers is always our priority," the airline said in a statement, adding that an investigation to determine the exact cause of engine failure is underway. Further details are awaited, The New York Post reported.
In a statement, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Board said, "a preliminary assessment team is en route to Benin to secure the aircraft, document evidence, interview pertinent personnel and witnesses, and recover flight data and cockpit voice recorder information."