False alarm caused air return of Lagos-Abuja flight W3 720, Arik Air clarifies

Arik Air, Nigeria’s embattled airline under receivership, has clarified an air return incident involving one of its flights scheduled for Lagos-Abuja – W3 720 – operated with a Boeing 737-700 aircraft.

In a statement, the airline explained that the incident, which happened in the early hours of today – April 18, 2024, was a swift decision initiated by the crew after the detection of an indication light signaling a potential fire in the aft cargo area, approximately 10 minutes post-takeoff.

The airline explained further that following strict adherence to standard operating procedures, the Captain promptly initiated the air return protocol and communicated with the Control Tower to secure priority landing clearance. 

“Upon landing safely in Lagos, passengers were disembarked and the aircraft underwent thorough inspections to ensure its airworthiness for future flight operations.

“Subsequent investigation by our maintenance team determined that the indication light was triggered by a false alarm,” explained Arik Air.

The airline expressed sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused to their valued passengers due to the precautionary measures taken. 

“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience experienced by our esteemed passengers as a result of this incident.”

As operations resume, the airline assures travelers of their continued dedication to upholding the highest safety standards in all flight operations.