Close to Crash: Private Jet Loses Door Mid Air, Makes Emergency Landing in Abuja

A private jet operated by Triton Aviation made an emergency landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after losing a door mid-air shortly after take-off on Thursday.

The aircraft, a CL60 with registration number T7-SEI and flight identification DWC052, was en route to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, when the incident occurred at about 4:20 pm.

An incident report obtained by The PUNCH indicated that the crew alerted air traffic controllers that a door had opened during the flight, prompting the approach radar controller to direct the aircraft back to Abuja for an emergency landing.

According to the report, the aircraft took off from Runway 22 at 4:17 pm UTC and was approximately three nautical miles from the airport, climbing through 3,000 feet, when the crew issued a distress call.

“Mayday, Mayday, Mayday,” the crew reportedly transmitted.

Following the distress call, airport fire and emergency personnel, alongside the medical team, were immediately alerted and placed on standby. Fire and rescue teams were also directed to designated positions in preparation for the aircraft’s return.

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

“The duty air traffic controller attempted to observe the aircraft using binoculars, but could not establish the door’s condition because of the aircraft’s position. The crew was subsequently informed that the controller could not confirm the situation visually,” the report stated.

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

After the landing, the duty controller observed that the aircraft’s door was missing from the fuselage, confirming that the aircraft had lost the component during the flight.

The jet was subsequently taxied to the international apron extension and parked with the assistance of a marshaller.

Meanwhile, a video obtained by The PUNCH showed the missing door, reportedly recovered by farmers from a farm in the Abuja area.

In the video, a man whose identity could not be established said the farmers found the door 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 number of passengers on board the aircraft had not been confirmed as of the time of filing this report.

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

Although the NSIB could not immediately provide an official comment, a reliable source in the agency confirmed the seriousness of the incident.

The source disclosed that the bureau’s management had deployed investigators to look into the incident and would issue an official statement in due course.

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