A private jet operated by Triton Aviation was forced to make an emergency landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday after losing a door while climbing at about 3,000 feet shortly after take-off.
The crew of the CL60 aircraft, with registration number T7-SEI and flight identification DWC052, declared a Mayday distress call before returning to the airport for an emergency landing.
The aircraft was scheduled to fly from Abuja to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, when the incident occurred at approximately 4:20 p.m. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
According to an incident report, the jet departed Runway 22 at 4:17 p.m. UTC and was about three nautical miles from the airport when the crew reported that a door had opened mid-air.
The approach radar controller subsequently instructed the aircraft to return to Abuja, while airport emergency services were mobilised to prepare for its arrival.
The airport’s fire watch room and medical team were alerted, with fire and emergency personnel positioned at designated locations, A4 and A5, ahead of the aircraft’s landing.
At about 4:29 p.m. UTC, the crew contacted the Abuja control tower to establish whether air traffic controllers could determine the condition of the door.
The duty air traffic controller reportedly attempted to inspect the aircraft with binoculars but could not confirm whether the door was open because of the aircraft’s position.
The aircraft eventually landed safely on Runway 22 at approximately 4:34 p.m. UTC, about 14 minutes after the Mayday call.
“The aircraft landed safely on Runway 22 at approximately 4:34 p.m. UTC, 14 minutes after the Mayday call,” the incident report stated.
After landing, the duty controller observed that the door was missing from the aircraft’s fuselage. The jet was subsequently guided by a marshaller to the international apron extension, where it was parked.
Meanwhile, a video circulating on social media purportedly showed the missing aircraft door recovered from farmland in Abuja.
In the footage, 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 number of passengers and crew members aboard the aircraft was not immediately known.
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 further because the matter fell under the jurisdiction of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau.
The NSIB also confirmed the incident, with a source at the bureau disclosing that its management had deployed investigators to establish the circumstances surrounding the occurrence.
The source added that an official statement would be issued in due course.
Triton Aviation could not be reached for comment as of the time of filing this report.
