‘Terrifying footage’: passenger plane forced to divert after engine failure

Tengrinews.kz – A passenger plane of Nigerian airline Arik Air was forced to change course and make an emergency landing after an engine failure.

What happened

The incident occurred on 11 February in Nigeria. According to TRT Africa, an Arik Air Boeing 737-7GL was operating a domestic flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt.

There were at least 80 passengers on board. During the flight, one of the aircraft’s engines failed, and the crew decided to alter the route.

The plane landed safely at Benin Airport. There were no reports of injuries.

Investigation launched

According to Vanguard News, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has opened an investigation into the Arik Air Boeing 737-7GL with registration number 5N-MJF.

The statement notes that preliminary observations indicate significant damage to the affected engine based on an initial visual assessment.

A preliminary report is expected to be published within 30 days. The final report will be released after the investigation is completed.

Could the aircraft have continued the flight?

As reported by AirlineRatings, under aviation certification requirements, twin-engine aircraft such as the Boeing 737 are designed to safely continue the flight and perform a landing even if one engine fails.

In such situations, pilots follow clear procedures:

• shut down the failed engine;
• stabilize flight parameters;
• choose the nearest suitable airport for landing.

These scenarios are practiced in simulators and are part of mandatory crew training.