BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released the preliminary report on the serious in-flight incident involving a Boeing 737-700 aircraft operated by Arik Air Limited.
This was contained in a statement signed by Mrs Funke Arowojobe, Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance at the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau.
The aircraft, bearing nationality and registration marks 5N-MJF, was involved in the occurrence on February 11, 2026, while operating a scheduled passenger flight from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo International Airport, Port Harcourt.
According to the bureau, the crew reported an abnormal engine event during the flight, prompting the activation of emergency procedures and a diversion to the nearest available airport in Benin City.
The aircraft subsequently landed safely, and all passengers and crew members on board disembarked without injury.
In a statement announcing the report’s release, the bureau said the document outlines the factual information gathered so far in the course of the investigation.
“The preliminary report presents the factual information gathered so far, including details from the flight crew, air traffic control communications, flight recorders, and initial examination of the aircraft,” the statement said.
NSIB explained that investigations into the incident remain ongoing, with further technical assessments currently underway.
“The information contained in the preliminary report is subject to further review and analysis,” the bureau noted.
The agency added that the final report will contain its conclusions on the incident as well as safety recommendations aimed at preventing similar occurrences in the future.
Members of the public and the media can access the preliminary report through the bureau’s official website.
FACTUAL INFORMATION
On 11 February, 2026, a Boeing 737-700 aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5NMJF, operated by Arik Air Limited was on a scheduled passenger flight from Murtala Muhammed International Airport (DNMM), Lagos, to Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo International Airport (DNPO), Port Harcourt.
The captain stated that flight operations started at 05:30 h.
The captain further stated that the preflight preparations, flight crew briefing and passenger boarding, were normal.
At 07:10:59 h, Tower passed the following departure clearance to the Aircraft: “ARIK SEVEN FOUR ZERO CLEARED PORT HARCOURT UPPER ROMEO NINE EIGHT FOUR FLIGHT LEVEL TWO NINE
ZERO SQUAWK ZERO FIVE ONE FOUR.”
At 07:24 h, the aircraft was airborne as ARA740 on an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan with seven (7) crew members and eighty (80) passengers on board and fuel endurance of 2
hours 40 minutes.
The First Officer was the Pilot Flying (PF), while the captain was the Pilot Monitoring (PM).
At 07:25:04 h, the lead cabin crew informed the flight crew via the interphone that they had heard a hissing sound from the L1 door (front passenger boarding door).
The crew discussed the hissing sound report and attributed it to coming from the door seal, which
would fizzle out in a short time.
At 07:27:52 h, the Radar/Approach control requested the crew to contact and continue
with the Area Control Centre (ACC) on 127.3 MHz, and the crew acknowledged.
At 07:28:17 h, the ACC cleared the ARA740 to climb to FL 290 and fly direct to Port
Harcourt.
The crew stated that at about 07:35 h, during climb, passing FL 260 for FL 290 in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC), a loud bang was heard, followed by severe vibration and an abnormal grinding noise from the engine.
The aircraft veered left and began decelerating while maintaining the climb attitude.
At this time, the autopilot was ON and engaged in Vertical Navigation (VNAV) and Lateral Navigation (LNAV) modes.
The crew immediately disconnected the autopilot and adjusted the aircraft’s pitch attitude to stabilise and maintain control.
After assessing the engine parameters, the crew recognised that the aircraft had sustained severe damage to the No. 1 engine.
Thereafter, the crew reported carrying out (engine shut down) in accordance with Arik
Airline’Quick Reference Handbook (QRH), followed by a Mayday call, informing the Air
Traffic Control (ATC) of the nature of the emergency and the intention for an air return.
However, the ATC advised the crew to divert to Benin airport, as it was closer than Lagos.
The crew stated that they decided to divert to Benin Airport, as advised by ATC, due to its proximity and the uncertainty about the aircraft’s flyability.
At 07:36:52 h, the first officer, who was the pilot flying at the time of the occurrence,
transferred the control of the aircraft to the captain.
At 07:36: 57 h, the captain responded: “I HAVE CONTROLS”.
Attack 07: 38:55 h, the ATC gave the vector heading to Benin, as requested by the crew:
At 07:39:21 h, the first officer informed the captain that Benin was just 40 miles away and that the aircraft needed to lose some altitude.
At 07:39:40 h, the lead cabin crew requested entry to the cockpit and was allowed by the
captain.
The lead cabin crew was briefed by the first officer on the nature of the emergency (engine failure), the flight crew’s intention (diversion to an alternate airport – Benin), the time available (14 minutes), and special instructions (door L1 would be used for disembarkation, except in the event of a fire).
The lead cabin crew, in turn, briefed the other cabin crew members, conducted a safety demonstration for the passengers, prepared the cabin for a precautionary landing, and communicated the same to the flight crew.
At 07:43:13 h, ARA740 was cleared by the Lagos ACC to fly direct to Benin and to continue with Benin Control Tower on the frequency 122.5 MHz.
At 07:47:23 h, while passing FL 100 to FL 060, the crew contacted Benin Tower and
provided its flight information.
At 07:47:58 h, Benin Tower cleared ARA740 to continue its descent to FL 060 and to expect no delay for the Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach Runway 23.
During post occurrence interview, the captain stated that, while approaching Benin at about 5000ft, the crew elected to perform an orbit to lose height and complete the final checklist items.
Concerns about the aircraft’s low-speed handling were expressed and the lead cabincrew was requested by the Captain to visually check the control surfaces for any damage.
At 08:03:23 h, the aircraft was 6 miles out and reported established on ILS Runway 23.
Benin Tower passed the following landing instructions to the aircraft “ARIK 740 EXERCISE CAUTION DUE BIRD ACTIVITIES, SURFACE WIND CALM, WITH THE RUNWAY IN SIGHT,
CLEAR TO LAND RUNWAY 23 AND BE ADVISED FIRE WATCH ROOM AND AMBULANCE ARE
ON STANDBY”.
At 08:06:07 h, ARA740 landed safely on runway 23.
The crew stated that the touchdown was normal, thrust reverser number 2 was deployed, and the auto-braking setting of 3 units was used.
ARA740 stopped short of the runway end, backtracked, taxied and parked on the apron.
All passengers disembarked normally without injuries.
The incident occurred in daylight and Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) prevailed.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
