Aircraft Loses Door Mid-Air, Makes Emergency Landing In Abuja

A CL60 aircraft operated by Triton Aviation has made an emergency landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after its crew reported that a door had opened and subsequently went missing during flight.

The aircraft, with registration number T7-SEI, departed Abuja for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at 4:17 p.m. on Thursday.

According to a serious incident report, the crew issued a distress call barely three minutes after take-off, when the aircraft was about three nautical miles from the airport and flying at an altitude of 3,000 feet.

The crew reportedly made a “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY” call at 4:20 p.m., informing air traffic control that a door had opened in flight.

Following the distress call, air traffic control redirected the aircraft to Abuja for an emergency landing on Runway 22.

The report detailed the sequence of events leading to the aircraft’s safe return to the airport.

It stated: “At 1620 UTC, APP-RADAR informed Tower DWCO52 a CL60 with registration marking T7SEI that departed Abuja at 1617 UTC runway 22 to DNMM at 3 nautical miles outbound, passing 3000ft made a MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY call.

“DWC052 reported an open door in flight. Radar vectored the aircraft back to land using runway 22.”

The report added that emergency response teams were placed on standby shortly after the distress call.

“At 16:22 UTC, Fire watch room and Medical team informed to be on standby. Information pertaining to the flight passed to the fire watch room. Fire watch asked to position at A4 and A5,” it stated.

At 4:29 p.m. UTC, the aircraft crew contacted Abuja Tower to ask whether air traffic controllers could see the open door.

According to the report, the duty air traffic controller attempted to inspect the aircraft using binoculars but could not see the door because of the aircraft’s position. The crew was subsequently informed.

The aircraft landed safely on Runway 22 at 4:34 p.m. UTC. Following the landing, the duty air traffic controller observed that the door was missing from the aircraft’s fuselage.

The report further stated that the aircraft was taxied to the international apron extension, where it was parked with the assistance of a marshaller at about 4:40 p.m. UTC.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has confirmed the serious incident.

A member of the bureau’s media team confirmed the development, saying investigators were already at the scene.

“Yes, it happened. The investigators are there. We will be releasing an official statement shortly,” the media team said.