A domestic flight in Nigeria turned into a high-stakes emergency after a violent engine failure caused extensive damage to the aircraft and forced the crew to shut down the engine and divert.
On February 11th 2026, a Arik Air Boeing 737-700, registration 5N-MJF, operating flight W3-740 from Lagos to Port Harcourt with 80 people on board, was climbing through about FL270 when a loud bang erupted from the left-hand CFM56 engine.
The noise was followed by abnormal engine indications, prompting the crew to shut the engine down. The pilots then diverted the aircraft to Benin City, where the aircraft landed safely on runway 23 about 25 minutes later.
Nigeria’s Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau opened an investigation and initially reported that the engine had sustained substantial damage.
Additional information released on February 18th confirmed that the crew had observed abnormal engine indications during cruise and carried out a precautionary shutdown before diverting to the nearest suitable airport. The aircraft landed without further incident and passengers and crew disembarked normally, with no injuries reported.
Further updates on February 20th revealed that the event had occurred at about FL260, when the crew experienced strong vibrations accompanied by a loud bang from engine number one. The left engine, its cowling, and even parts of the aircraft’s vertical stabilizer were later found to have sustained damage. The occurrence was classified as a serious incident.
A preliminary report published on March 12th provided a detailed reconstruction of the flight. Investigators reported that about a minute after takeoff the lead flight attendant notified the cockpit crew of a hissing sound near the front of the aircraft. The sound was believed to originate from the L1 door seal and did not initially indicate a major problem.
Approximately eleven minutes after departure, while climbing through FL260, the crew heard a loud bang followed by severe vibrations and a grinding noise from the left engine. The pilots disengaged the autopilot, stabilized the aircraft, and quickly determined that the engine had suffered major damage. They shut the engine down and declared a Mayday before diverting to Benin City on the recommendation of air traffic control.
A post-flight inspection uncovered extensive structural and engine damage. Investigators found that the number six fan blade had fractured, leaving its root attached to the hub while all other fan blades showed damage. The engine inlet cowling was missing entirely, and both the inboard and outboard engine cowling covers had been folded upward by the force of the failure.
Further inspection revealed the engine-driven pump had become loose and the engine containment case had sustained deep cuts and cracks. Several outlet guide vanes were missing, and multiple parts of the aircraft’s airframe had been struck by debris.
Damage was also recorded on the aircraft’s left wing leading edge, the horizontal stabilizer, and the vertical stabilizer, with dents, punctures, and large cuts visible in several areas. The rudder also showed visible damage.
Despite the severity of the failure and the debris damage to multiple parts of the aircraft, the crew managed to maintain control and land the aircraft safely, preventing what could have been a far more serious outcome. The investigation into the cause of the engine failure remains ongoing.