The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, says, it has commenced investigation into the Arik Air Boeing 737 aircraft forced to divert mid-air after developing an engine problem.
The scheduled flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt was forced to land at the Benin Airport.
The NSIB says, its team is heading to Benin to secure the aircraft, gather evidence, interview relevant personnel, and retrieve flight data and cockpit voice recordings.
According to the Bureau’s spokesperson, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, the incident occurred during the cruise phase of the flight when the crew detected abnormal engine indications.
Acting in line with standard safety protocols, the pilots shut down the affected engine and safely diverted the aircraft to Benin Airport.
The aircraft landed safely without incident, and all passengers and crew disembarked normally, with no injuries recorded.
However, initial visual inspections carried out after landing revealed significant damage to the affected engine.
The Bureau is working closely with aviation regulators and the airline to determine what led to the occurrence.
The agency assures the public that passenger safety remains its top priority, adding that a preliminary report is expected within 30 days, while further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen