Shocking: Aircraft Loses Door Mid-Flight Over Nigeria, Forces Emergency Landing

An aircraft operated by Triton Aviation, identified as a CL60 with registration number T7-SEI and flight identification DWC052, executed an emergency landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday. The incident occurred shortly after the aircraft departed Abuja, heading for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, when its crew reported that a door had opened mid-air.

According to a serious incident report, the aircraft took off from Runway 22 at 4:17 p.m. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Approximately three nautical miles from the airport, while climbing at 3,000 feet, the crew issued a distress call at 4:20 p.m. The crew's report of an open door in flight prompted air traffic controllers to immediately direct the aircraft back to Abuja for an emergency landing. Airport fire and rescue personnel, along with the medical team, were promptly alerted and placed on standby.

At about 4:29 p.m. UTC, the crew inquired if the Abuja control tower could confirm the door's condition. The duty air traffic controller attempted to observe the aircraft using binoculars but was unable to visually establish whether the door was open due to the aircraft's position, a situation that was communicated back to the crew. The aircraft landed safely on Runway 22 at approximately 4:34 p.m. UTC, roughly 14 minutes after the initial Mayday call. Following its landing, the controller visually confirmed that the aircraft's door was missing from the fuselage. The aircraft was subsequently taxied to the international apron extension and parked with the assistance of a marshaller.

Adding to the developing situation, a video circulating on social media purportedly shows the aircraft's missing door. In the footage, an unidentified man claimed that farmers found the door while returning from their farm in the Abuja area, suggesting it had fallen from an aircraft. However, further details regarding this alleged discovery have not been provided, and the circumstances surrounding it remain unindependently verified as of the time of this report.

The cause of the incident and the precise circumstances leading to the door's detachment have not yet been established, and the number of people aboard the aircraft is not immediately available. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has confirmed the incident, stating that investigators have been deployed to the scene and an official statement would be released shortly. Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), also confirmed the incident but deferred jurisdiction to the NSIB. Triton Aviation could not be reached for comment when the report was filed.