Frightened passengers filmed a plane engine in tatters following a scary mid-air explosion.
The Boeing 737-7GL was forced to divert and make an emergency landing at a nearby airport.
There were 80 passengers on board when the left engine blew up shortly after take-off yesterday (11 Feb).
READ MORE: Seething West Ham fans exchange blows in the stands
The Arik Air plane was operating a scheduled domestic flight across Nigeria from Lagos to Port Harcourt.
The diverted aircraft made a safe emergency landing at Benin Airport, according to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
A statement from Arik Air said the cabin crew on flight W3 740 heard a loud bang shortly after take-off and enacted emergency procedures.
The plane made it successfully to Benin on one engine and no injuries were reported.
Pilots regularly practice these kinds of scenarios in a simulator, allowing them to manage the emergency situation until landing, as reported by Need To Know.
A NSIB spokesperson confirmed that the plane encountered an “in-flight engine anomaly”.
The statement added: “A preliminary assessment team is en route to Benin to secure the aircraft, document evidence, interview relevant personnel and witnesses, and recover flight data and cockpit voice recorder information.”
NSIB said it was working closely with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and Arik Air to establish what happened and any contributing factors.
An Arik Air spokesperson said: “We sincerely apologise to the affected Port Harcourt passengers whose journey has been disrupted.
“The safety and wellbeing of passengers is always our priority at Arik Air.”
The investigation into the cause of the engine explosion is ongoing.
READ MORE: Girl slips into freezing river at snowy nature spot with mum jumping in to save her
