A private jet operated by Triton Aviation has made an emergency landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after losing a door shortly after takeoff while heading to Lagos.

The incident occurred on Thursday, October 15, 2026, involving a CL60 aircraft with registration number T7-SEI and flight identification DWC052.

According to an incident report, the aircraft departed Abuja at 4:17 p.m. UTC from Runway 22, bound for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

About three minutes after takeoff, while climbing through 3,000 feet and approximately three nautical miles from the airport, the crew declared an emergency by transmitting a “Mayday” distress call.

The crew informed 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.

Following the distress call at approximately 4:20 p.m. UTC, airport fire and emergency personnel, alongside medical teams, were alerted and placed on standby in preparation for the aircraft’s return.

Fire and rescue teams were also directed to designated positions near access points A4 and A5 to respond if necessary.

At about 4:29 p.m. UTC, while communicating with the Abuja control tower, the crew asked air traffic controllers whether they could confirm if the door was open.

The duty air traffic controller attempted to observe the aircraft using binoculars but could not determine the door’s condition because of the aircraft’s position.

The crew was subsequently informed that the controller could not visually confirm the situation.

Aircraft Lands Safely After Distress Call

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

Following the landing, the duty air traffic controller observed that the door was missing from the aircraft’s fuselage, confirming that it had detached during the flight.

The aircraft was subsequently taxied to the international apron extension, where it was parked with the assistance of a marshaller.

A video circulating after the incident reportedly showed the missing door, which was said to have been discovered by farmers returning from their farmland in the Abuja area.

In the video, a man whose identity was not established said the farmers found the object and believed it had fallen from an aircraft.

The number of passengers on board the jet was not immediately confirmed in the initial report.

NSIB Deploys Investigators

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Achimugu, confirmed the incident but said the investigation fell under the responsibility of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).

The NSIB also confirmed the incident, saying its investigators had been deployed and that an official statement would be released.

Triton Aviation, the operator of the aircraft, could not immediately be reached for comment.

The circumstances surrounding the detachment of the door, including the possible cause and any maintenance or operational factors, had yet to be established as investigations were expected to continue.

The incident has raised fresh concerns about aviation safety, although the crew’s decision to return to Abuja enabled the aircraft to land safely.