A Nigerian airline, Arik Air, recently announced that one of its Boeing 737-700 planes, which was flying from Lagos to Abuja as flight W3 720 on a Thursday morning, had to turn back due to a potential fire indication. This “turn back” occurred because of a false alarm, meaning no fire existed.
When an aircraft returns to the departure airport without intending to, it’s called an “air return.” The airline’s management explained that the incident happened about 10 minutes after takeoff, prompting the flight captain to follow standard procedures and return to Lagos.
After the plane landed safely, the passengers disembarked, and the maintenance team thoroughly inspected the aircraft to ensure it was safe for future flights. The investigation revealed that the indication light suggesting a fire was a false alarm.
In a statement, the airline expressed regret for any inconvenience caused to its passengers and assured them of their commitment to safety. They apologized for the incident and reassured passengers that their safety was a top priority.
