The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has verified that on Wednesday, while flying a scheduled domestic route from Lagos to Port Harcourt, an Arik Air Boeing 737-7GL aircraft encountered an in-flight engine issue.
According to reports, the aircraft, registered 5N-MJF, was compelled to make a safe and incident-free landing at Benin Airport.
The information was revealed in a statement released by Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, the NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance.
The agency claims that when the aircraft was in the cruise phase of the trip, the flight crew noticed unusual signals coming from one of its engines.
The pilots executed a precautionary shutdown of the impacted engine and decided to divert to the closest appropriate airfield in accordance with established safety procedures in the tight environment.
Following a safe landing at Benin Airport, all passengers and crew members disembarked without incident. Nobody was hurt.
Based on an initial visual examination, the NSIB reported that first observations showed considerable damage to the impacted engine.
According to an early visual evaluation, preliminary findings at Benin Airport point to serious damage to the impacted engine. Under ICAO Annex 13, the NSIB said it has started an investigation in accordance with its legislative mandate and international standards, the statement said.
An assessment team had been sent to the area to secure the aircraft and collect pertinent evidence, it was noted.
In order to secure the aircraft, gather flight data and cockpit voice recorder information, interview pertinent witnesses and personnel, and document evidence, the assessment team is currently traveling to Benin, according to the statement.
In order to ascertain the chronology of events and pinpoint any contributing reasons, the bureau further revealed that it is collaborating closely with Arik Air, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and other important parties.
Safety recommendations intended to stop similar mishaps in the future are anticipated to be guided by the investigation’s findings.
