Arik Air Boeing 737 makes emergency landing in Nigeria after engine failure

On Wednesday, February 11, 2026, an Arik Air Boeing 737-700, registration 5N-MJF, experienced a significant engine failure during a flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Passengers reported hearing a loud explosion and observed visible damage to the aircraft's left engine, which was identified as a CFM56-7B20 model. Visual evidence shared on social media showed that a portion of the inlet cowl was lost during the flight. Despite the visual damage and reports of an uncontained engine failure, all 80 passengers on board remained safe. The pilot was forced to perform an emergency landing at Benin City Airport. No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew following the landing. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has officially launched a full investigation into the technical causes of the failure. Reports indicate the malfunction occurred while the aircraft was beginning its descent into the destination area. The airline confirmed that the emergency situation was managed according to established safety protocols.