An Arik Air pilot and cabin crew safely diverted a Lagos–Port Harcourt flight to Benin after an in-flight engine failure, saving all 80 passengers on board.
INSIDE STORY: How pilot, cabin crew saved 80 passengers in Arik Air mishap
On February 11, about 80 passengers reportedly survived what could have been a deadly plane crash on Nigerian soil, following an engine fault on an aircraft operated by Arik Air.
The aviation firm said… pic.twitter.com/dOcVstM1Hr
— TheCable (@thecableng) February 15, 2026
INSIDE STORY: How pilot, cabin crew saved 80 passengers in Arik Air mishap
On February 11, about 80 passengers reportedly survived what could have been a deadly plane crash on Nigerian soil, following an engine fault on an aircraft operated by Arik Air.
The aviation firm said its Boeing 737-700 aircraft operating a Lagos-Port Harcourt flight on Wednesday diverted to Benin airport after the crew “heard a loud bang from the left engine”.
The flight W3-740, with registration number 5N-MJF, was said to be descending into Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, when the incident occurred.
The trip began like any other: a smooth climb, normal cabin sounds, and the quiet comfort of believing everything was routine, a source who was on the flight told TheCable.
“We were ascending steadily, and for a while, nothing felt out of place. Until it happened,” the source said.
What followed, she said, was a sudden, terrifying bang and the aircraft instantly began to “vibrate violently, threateningly”.
“I turned toward the window, and what I saw froze me. Panic erupted,” the source said.
“The cabin filled with confusion, voices trembling, and cries of “Jesus!” echoing everywhere. In that moment, fear became a physical thing. Heavy and suffocating.
NEWS NOW:
