A business aircraft operated by Triton Aviation has made a safe emergency landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after its crew reported that a door had opened during take-off and was later found missing.
The CL60 aircraft, registered as T7-SEI, was travelling from Abuja to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Thursday when the incident occurred shortly after departure.
A serious incident report stated that the aircraft took off from Runway 22 at 4:17 p.m. and was about three nautical miles from the airport, flying at an altitude of 3,000 feet, when the crew issued a distress call at 4:20 p.m.
The crew declared a “MAYDAY” emergency and informed air traffic controllers that a door had opened in flight.
Air traffic control immediately directed the aircraft back to Abuja for an emergency landing on the same runway.
Airport emergency services were placed on standby at 4:22 p.m., with fire and medical teams alerted to prepare for the aircraft’s return. Fire personnel were instructed to position themselves near stands A4 and A5.
At 4:29 p.m., the crew contacted the Abuja control tower to ask whether controllers could see the open door. The duty air traffic controller attempted to inspect the aircraft using binoculars but could not confirm the door’s condition because of the aircraft’s position.
The aircraft landed safely on Runway 22 at 4:34 p.m. Following the landing, the controller observed that the door was missing from the fuselage.
The aircraft was then directed to the international apron extension, where it was parked with the assistance of a marshaller at about 4:40 p.m.
The media team of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed that the incident had occurred and said investigators were at the scene. The bureau indicated that an official statement would be issued.
The circumstances surrounding the door opening and its subsequent disappearance were not immediately clear. The incident is expected to be examined by investigators to establish what happened during the flight.
