Just In: Panic as Plane Travelling From Lagos to PH Develops Engine Fault on Air
- Arik Air flight safely diverted to Benin City due to a mid-air engine issue
- All 80 passengers disembarked safely, with no injuries reported
- Nigerians express mixed reactions on social media regarding airline safety
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Panic gripped the passengers of an Arik Air flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt on Wednesday, February 11, after the aircraft was reportedly diverted following the development of an engine issue mid-flight.
The development forced the crew to make an emergency landing in Benin City.
Source: UGC
How Arik Air was diverted
Daily Trust reported that the airline said that its Boeing 737-700 aircraft, registered 5N-MJF, operating Flight W3 740, was on its way into Port Harcourt International Airport in Omagwa, when a loud bang was heard from the left engine by the flight crew.
The pilot then immediately diverted the flight to the nearest airport as a precautionary measure, which was in line with the established safety protocols. Then, the airline safely landed at Benin Airport without any further incident.
In an update, Arik Air confirmed that all the 80 passengers on board and crew members have been safely disembarked and that there was no report of any injury. The airline also made arrangements to transport the passengers to Port Harcourt, which was their final destination.
Nigerians react as Arik Airline is diverted
Nigerians have started reacting to the news of the incident on social media differently. Below are some of their reactions:
Oyeniran Michael expressed gratitude to God for the passengers' safety:
"Thank God everyone is safe. That bang must’ve been terrifying. These incidents are becoming too frequent, though. The way my heart will enter my mouth if I hear that kind of bang inside plane Glad everyone is okay sha"
Gp Money expressed gratitude for the safe landing:
"Scary situation! Glad the Arik flight safely diverted to Benin after a faulty engine. Safety should always be the top priority for airlines in Nigeria must ensure proper maintenance to prevent accidents."
Source: Twitter
Kie warned that the issue has been frequent:
"Engine fault mid-air? Arik flight diverted to Benin safely, thank God But these issues too frequent."
Piroll criticised the Arik Air service:
"Arik should just leave the airline business and focus on another thing. They have not refunded me for a cancelled flight since last year."
Newly advocated for the safety of airline users:
"This is why routine checks and quick pilot decisions matter. Safety first, always."
Don-Love lamented poor service conditions in Nigeria's airline operation:
"This is why I can't ever trust Nigerian local Air. We celebrate safe landings like miracles. That alone tells you the system is broken. Safety should be the standard, not a surprise."
You can read more comments from Nigerians on the incident on X here:
Source: Legit.ng
