Abuja-Bound Private Jet Loses Door Mid-Air, Makes Emergency Landing

A private jet operated by Triton Aviation made an emergency landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, on Thursday after losing a door shortly after take-off, prompting the crew to declare a “Mayday” emergency.

The aircraft, a CL60 with registration number T7-SEI and flight identification DWC052, was scheduled to fly from Abuja to the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos when the incident occurred at about 4:20 p.m. UTC.

According to an incident report, the jet took off from Runway 22 at 4:17 p.m. UTC. It was approximately three nautical miles from the airport and climbing through 3,000 feet when the crew alerted air traffic controllers that a door had opened mid-air.

The approach radar controller directed the aircraft back to Abuja, while the airport’s fire watch room, medical team and emergency personnel were placed on standby. Fire and rescue teams were also positioned at designated locations in preparation for the aircraft’s return.

At about 4:29 p.m. UTC, the crew asked the Abuja control tower whether controllers could confirm if the door was open. The duty controller attempted to observe the aircraft with binoculars but could not determine the door’s condition because of the aircraft’s position.

The jet landed safely on Runway 22 at approximately 4:34 p.m. 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. The jet was subsequently taxied to the international apron extension and parked with the assistance of a marshaller.

Meanwhile, a video circulating online reportedly showed farmers recovering what was believed to be the missing aircraft door from farmland in Abuja. In the footage, a man said the item was found as they returned from their farm, adding that they could not establish the aircraft’s identity from the object.

The number of passengers on board was not immediately known, and Triton Aviation had not responded to requests for comment at the time of the report. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed the incident but said it fell under the purview of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB). The NSIB also confirmed the occurrence, with a source at the bureau saying investigators had been deployed and an official statement was expected.