Interim Statement on Azman Air 5N-AIS

On 3^rd January, 2019 at about 10:10 h, a Boeing 737-500 aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-AIS operated by Azman Air Services Limited was on a scheduled commercial flight with a call sign AZM2316. AZM2316 departed Lagos for Port Harcourt on an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) Flight Plan with 109 passengers, two flight crew and three cabin crew, endurance of three hours. The take-off and climb out phase was normal.  The aircraft leveled off at a cruising altitude of 29,000 ft (FL 290). According to the flight crew, at some point during the cruise, about 20-25 minutes into the flight, they heard a loud bang which lasted for about 4-5 seconds followed by a yaw to the right.