Private Jet Loses Door at 3,000 Feet in Abuja

A private jet operated by Triton Aviation narrowly avoided disaster on Thursday after one of its doors detached mid-air shortly after takeoff from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

The CL60 aircraft, registered T7-SEI and flying as DWC052, was bound for Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos. It lifted off from Runway 22 at 4:17 p.m. UTC.

About three nautical miles from the airport, while climbing through 3,000 feet, the crew declared a Mayday emergency at approximately 4:20 p.m. UTC, reporting that a door had opened in flight.

Air traffic controllers immediately directed the jet back to Abuja. Airport fire and medical teams were placed on standby, with emergency personnel positioned at access points A4 and A5.

At about 4:29 p.m. UTC, the crew asked the control tower whether controllers could confirm the door’s status.

The duty controller tried to check with binoculars but could not get a clear view due to the aircraft’s position.

The plane landed safely on Runway 22 at 4:34 p.m. UTC—just 14 minutes after the distress call. Only then did controllers see that the door was completely missing from the fuselage.

The aircraft taxied to the international apron extension and was parked with the help of a marshaller.

A video circulating online shows what appears to be the missing door, recovered by farmers from farmland in the Abuja area.

In the footage, a man says the object was found as they returned from their farm and that it had fallen from a plane.

The number of passengers on board has not been confirmed. Triton Aviation could not be reached for comment.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the incident but referred inquiries to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, which has deployed investigators and is expected to issue a statement.