Abuja Airport panic as private jet loses door mid-air, declares Mayday

The Triton Aviation aircraft returned safely to Abuja after an emergency call, renewing concerns about aviation safety and previous aircraft accidents in Nigeria.

A private jet operated by Triton Aviation triggered an emergency response at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after losing a door mid-air shortly after take-off, forcing its crew to declare a Mayday distress call and return for an emergency landing.

The aircraft, a CL60 business jet with registration number T7-SEI and flight identification DWC052, was reportedly heading to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, when the incident occurred.

An incident report obtained by our correspondent indicated that the aircraft departed Abuja’s Runway 22 at 4:17 pm UTC on the day of the incident.

About three nautical miles from the airport, while climbing through 3,000 feet, the crew reportedly transmitted the distress call: “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.”

The crew informed air traffic control that a door had opened during the flight, prompting the approach radar controller to direct the aircraft back to Abuja.

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Airport firefighters, rescue personnel and medical teams were immediately alerted and placed on standby as emergency responders prepared for the aircraft’s return.

Aircraft Lands Safely After 14-Minute Emergency

The incident report stated that at approximately 4:29 pm UTC, the crew, while communicating with the Abuja control tower, asked whether air traffic controllers could establish if the door was open.

The duty air traffic controller reportedly attempted to inspect the aircraft with binoculars but could not determine the door’s condition because of the aircraft’s position.

The crew was subsequently informed that the controller could not visually confirm the situation.

The aircraft eventually landed safely on Runway 22 at approximately 4:34 pm UTC, about 14 minutes after the Mayday call.

Following the landing, the duty controller observed that the door was missing from the aircraft’s fuselage, confirming that a serious in-flight incident had occurred.

The jet was subsequently guided by a marshaller to the international apron extension, where it was parked.

The number of passengers and crew members on board had not been independently confirmed at the time of filing this report.

Missing Aircraft Door Reportedly Found on Farm

A video circulating online showed what was described as the aircraft’s missing door, reportedly recovered by farmers in the Abuja area.

In the video, a man whose identity could not be established said the farmers discovered 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,” he said.

The circumstances surrounding the door’s detachment, including the mechanical or structural factors that may have contributed to the incident, remained unclear.

An investigation is expected to establish what happened, determine whether any safety procedures were breached and identify measures necessary to prevent a recurrence.

NCAA Confirms Incident as NSIB Investigation Looms

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, confirmed the incident but said the agency could not comment on the matter because it fell within the purview of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).

Although the NSIB had not issued an official statement at the time of filing this report, a source familiar with the matter confirmed that the bureau’s management had deployed investigators.

Triton Aviation, the aircraft’s operator, could not be reached for comment as of the time of filing this report.

The investigation is expected to clarify the cause of the door separation and establish whether the incident exposed any maintenance, operational or aircraft airworthiness concerns.