On Feb 11th 2026, an Arik Air Boeing 737-700, registration 5N-MJF, diverted to Benin City after a loud bang and severe vibration from its left engine during climb.
Flight W3-740 had departed Lagos for Port Harcourt with 80 people on board and was climbing through FL270 when the crew heard a loud bang from the number one CFM International CFM56 engine. Abnormal engine indications followed, prompting the pilots to shut the engine down in accordance with established procedures.
The crew elected to divert to Benin City, landing safely on runway 23 approximately 25 minutes later. All passengers and crew disembarked normally, and no injuries were reported.
Nigeria’s Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) opened an investigation, initially stating that the engine had sustained substantial damage. On Feb 18th 2026, the agency confirmed the crew detected abnormal indications during cruise and carried out a precautionary shutdown before diverting, with preliminary visual assessments showing significant engine damage.
On Feb 20th 2026, the NSIB added that at about FL260 the crew experienced vibration accompanied by a loud bang from engine number one. In addition to damage to the left engine, investigators reported damage to the engine cowling and the aircraft’s vertical stabilizer. The event has been classified as a serious incident and remains under investigation.
Modern twin-engine jets are certified to continue safe flight on a single engine, and crews are rigorously trained for such scenarios. The safe diversion highlights the effectiveness of standard engine failure procedures, even when accompanied by structural damage.
