Private Jet Loses Door Mid-Air, Makes Emergency Landing In Abuja [VIDEO]

The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja experienced a moment of intense panic on Thursday after a Bombardier Challenger CL60 private jet operated by Triton Aviation suffered a dramatic in-flight door detachment, forcing the flight crew to declare an emergency shortly after departure.

According to flight logs and incident reports, the aircraft—bearing registration number T7-SEI and operating flight identification DWC052—departed from Runway 22 at 4:17 pm UTC en route to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

The emergency unfolded when the aircraft was approximately three nautical miles from the airport, climbing through an altitude of 3,000 feet, prompting the flight deck to broadcast an urgent Mayday, Mayday, Mayday distress call to the air traffic control tower.

Upon receiving the distress notification, airport rescue authorities immediately mobilized emergency medical teams, fire apparatus, and ground safety crews, positioning them along designated sectors to await the aircraft’s return.

Incident documentation revealed that at approximately 4:29 pm UTC, the rattled flight crew queried air traffic controllers to visually inspect whether the cabin door was still secured.

Reflecting the tense moments in the control tower, the report noted, The duty air traffic controller attempted to observe the aircraft using binoculars, but could not establish the door’s condition because of the aircraft’s position. The crew was subsequently informed that the controller could not confirm the situation visually.

Despite the structural compromise, the skilled flight crew successfully navigated the aircraft back to the airfield, touching down safely on Runway 22 at 4:34 pm UTC—roughly 14 minutes after broadcasting their emergency call.

Ground inspection following the touchdown confirmed that the aircraft’s entry door had entirely detached from the fuselage. The crippled jet was subsequently guided to the international apron extension under the direction of airport marshallers.

In a bizarre twist, viral video footage shared online showed local farmers discovering the missing aircraft door scattered across farmland in the Federal Capital Territory.

Recounting the discovery, a narrator in the circulating clip remarked, This is what we found as we were returning from our farm. It fell from a plane, but we don’t know much about its identity. As I am sending it to you, sir, just check it.

The exact manifest detailing the number of passengers and crew members aboard the private flight remains unconfirmed as investigations get underway.

Reacting to inquiries, Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), acknowledged the occurrence but deferred official commentary to aviation safety investigators.

Meanwhile, an insider within the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed the gravity of the mishap, disclosing that an elite team of investigators has been deployed to examine the wreckage and determine the primary cause of the structural failure.

See video below: