A private jet operated by Triton Aviation was forced to make an emergency landing in Abuja after losing a door shortly after take-off from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. The crew declared a “Mayday” distress call and returned safely to the airport, while a video reportedly showing the missing door recovered from farmland in the area circulated online.
The incident involved a CL60 aircraft with registration number T7-SEI and flight identification DWC052, which was scheduled to fly from Abuja to the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on Thursday.
According to an incident report, the aircraft departed Runway 22 at approximately 4:17 p.m. UTC. About three nautical miles from the airport, while climbing through 3,000 feet, the crew informed air traffic controllers that a door had opened mid-flight.
The development prompted the pilots to declare an emergency and request a return to Abuja.
Emergency Teams Placed on Standby
Following the distress call, airport emergency services were alerted and prepared for the aircraft’s return.
The airport’s fire watch room and medical team were placed on standby, while fire and emergency personnel were directed to designated positions at A4 and A5.
At about 4:29 p.m. UTC, the crew contacted the Abuja control tower and asked whether air traffic controllers could determine if the door was open.
The duty controller reportedly attempted to observe the aircraft with binoculars but could not establish the door’s condition because of its position.
The aircraft eventually landed safely on Runway 22 at approximately 4:34 p.m. UTC, about 14 minutes after the Mayday call.
After landing, the controller observed that the door was missing from the aircraft’s fuselage, confirming the seriousness of the incident.
The jet was subsequently moved to the international apron extension and parked with the assistance of a marshaller.
Farmers Reportedly Find Missing Aircraft Door
The incident also attracted attention after a video circulated online showing what was reportedly the missing aircraft door recovered from farmland in Abuja.
In the video, a man whose identity was not established said farmers found the object while returning from their farm.
“This is what we found as we were returning from our farm. It fell from a plane, but we don’t know much about its identity. As I am sending it to you, sir, just check it,” the man said.
The circumstances surrounding the door’s detachment, including what caused it to open or separate from the aircraft, were not immediately clear from the information available.
The number of passengers on board the jet was also not immediately known.
NCAA Confirms Incident as NSIB Begins Investigation
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, confirmed the incident when contacted.
However, he said the agency could not comment further because the matter fell under the responsibility of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
The NSIB also confirmed the incident.
A source at the bureau said its management had deployed investigators to examine the circumstances surrounding the occurrence, adding that an official statement would be issued.
The investigation is expected to establish what caused the aircraft to lose the door and determine whether any technical or operational issues contributed to the incident.
Although the aircraft landed safely, the loss of a door during flight raises important questions about aircraft integrity, maintenance and passenger safety. The findings of the aviation investigators should provide further details about what happened.
