Abuja-Bound Safety Scare: Triton Aviation Jet Loses Door Mid-Air, Lands Safely

A private jet operated by Triton Aviation made an emergency landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja after losing a door shortly after take-off, prompting the flight crew to issue a Mayday distress call.

The incident occurred involving a CL60 aircraft with registration number T7-SEI, operating as flight DWC052. The aircraft was travelling from Abuja to Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos when the incident occurred, according to reports citing an air traffic control incident report.

The aircraft departed Runway 22 at approximately 4:17 p.m. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). About three minutes later, while climbing through 3,000 feet and approximately three nautical miles from the airport, the crew alerted air traffic control that a door had opened during flight and transmitted a Mayday distress call.

Air traffic controllers directed the aircraft to return to Abuja for an emergency landing. Airport fire and rescue personnel, alongside medical teams, were placed on standby as a precaution while preparations were made for the aircraft’s arrival.

According to the incident report, the crew later asked the Abuja control tower whether controllers could see the aircraft’s open door. The duty air traffic controller attempted to inspect the aircraft using binoculars but could not confirm 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 distress call. Following the landing, the controller observed that the door was missing from the aircraft’s fuselage. The jet was subsequently moved to the international apron extension and parked with the assistance of a marshaller.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed the serious incident and indicated that investigators had been deployed to examine the circumstances surrounding it.

The missing door was reportedly found by farmers on farmland in the Abuja area. However, the precise circumstances that led to the door becoming detached have not been established publicly.

The incident highlights the importance of effective aircraft maintenance, operational safety procedures and independent aviation investigations. The cause of the door’s detachment remains undetermined, and conclusions should await the findings of the relevant authorities.

Obaland magazine will continue to monitor developments as investigators work to establish what happened and determine whether any safety measures or corrective actions are necessary.

A Triton Aviation CL60 jet lost a door shortly after take-off from Abuja and made a safe emergency landing as Nigerian investigators examined the incident.