Arik Air Boeing 737 Makes Emergency Landing After Engine Failure

Arik Air flight WP740, a Boeing 737-700 with registration 5N-MJF, experienced a left engine failure while en route from Lagos to Port Harcourt, Nigeria on February 11, 2026. The crew successfully diverted to Benin Airport, where all 80 passengers and crew members disembarked safely without injury.

Incident Details

The aircraft departed Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at 06:24 UTC. During climb through 27,000 feet, the crew detected a loud bang from the left engine accompanied by abnormal cockpit indications. The flight deck crew immediately shut down the affected engine and declared an emergency, diverting to Benin Airport.

Aircraft Damage Assessment

Initial scene photography revealed substantial damage to the left engine, including a missing engine inlet, severely torn engine cowlings, at least one missing fan blade, and additional damaged fan blades. The aircraft also suffered damage to the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer.

The damage pattern suggests a Fan Blade Off (FBO) event, where one or more fan blades detached from the engine during operation.

Investigation Status

Nigeria's Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) opened a formal investigation into the incident. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days of the incident.