A private jet operated by Triton Aviation made an emergency landing in Abuja after losing a door shortly after departing the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for Lagos.
The incident involved a CL60 aircraft with registration number T7-SEI, which took off at about 4:17pm on Thursday, 15 October 2026.
According to a serious incident report, the aircraft was approximately three nautical miles from the airport and flying at an altitude of 3,000 feet when its crew issued a distress call.
The pilots reportedly transmitted “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY” after discovering that a door had opened during the flight.
Air traffic controllers immediately directed the aircraft back to Abuja for an emergency landing on Runway 22.
Airport fire and medical teams were placed on standby as preparations were made for the aircraft’s return.
At about 4:34pm, the aircraft landed safely. Following its arrival, the duty air traffic controller observed that the door was missing from the aircraft’s fuselage.
The jet was subsequently directed to the international apron extension, where it was parked with assistance from ground personnel.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed the serious incident, stating that investigators had been deployed to examine the circumstances surrounding the occurrence.
The investigation is expected to establish how the door became detached and determine whether any technical or maintenance issues contributed to the incident.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about aircraft safety and the importance of rigorous maintenance and inspection procedures in the aviation sector.
Further details, including the number of people on board and the precise circumstances surrounding the missing door, were not provided in the initial report.
