Mid-Air Blast Damages Jet Engine, Flight Makes Emergency Landing | Video

Last Updated:February 13, 2026, 21:22 IST

Arik Air Flight made an emergency landing in Benin after a mid-air engine failure en route from Lagos to Port Harcourt. All 80 passengers and crew were safe.

A commercial flight operated by Arik Air was forced to make an emergency landing in southern Nigeria after one of its engines suffered a mid-air failure, officials said. No injuries were reported among the 80 passengers and crew on board.

The incident occurred on Wednesday morning aboard a Boeing 737-700 flying from Lagos to Port Harcourt. The aircraft, registered 5N-MJF and operating as Flight W3 740, departed Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 7:24 am local time and had reached an altitude of about 27,000 feet when crew members heard a loud bang from the left engine.

According to the airline, the pilots initiated standard precautionary procedures and diverted the aircraft to Benin Airport. The plane landed safely at approximately 8:05 am, with emergency services positioned on the ground as a precaution.

Videos circulating on social media show the aircraft descending and landing with visible damage to its number one engine. The outer metal casing, or cowling, appeared to be torn away, exposing internal components, including fan blades.

Initial information from aviation safety sources suggested that the engine inlet may have detached, with visible blade damage raising the possibility of a “fan blade off" incident — a rare but serious type of engine failure. Investigators also observed damage to the aircraft’s vertical stabiliser, likely caused by debris from the compromised engine.

Passengers reported hearing a loud explosion from the left side of the aircraft before the diversion. All occupants disembarked safely after landing.

Arik Air apologised for the disruption and confirmed that arrangements were made to transport passengers onward to Port Harcourt. “The safety and well-being of passengers is always our priority," the airline said, adding that a full investigation is underway.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Board has dispatched a preliminary assessment team to secure the aircraft, gather evidence, interview crew and witnesses, and retrieve flight data and cockpit voice recorder information.

Aviation authorities are expected to review the aircraft’s maintenance records, engine components, and flight history to determine the precise cause of the failure. While engine fan blade separations are uncommon, they can occur due to metal fatigue, foreign object damage, or mechanical defects.

The aircraft remains grounded pending further inspection as regulators assess whether additional safety measures may be required.

News world Mid-Air Blast Damages Jet Engine, Flight Makes Emergency Landing | Video

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