RismadarVoice Reporters
October 16, 2026
A private aircraft operated by Triton Aviation made an emergency landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after one of its doors reportedly opened and detached shortly after take-off.
The aircraft, a CL60 business jet with registration number T7-SEI, was travelling from Abuja to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos when the incident occurred on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
According to details contained in a serious incident report, the aircraft departed Abuja at approximately 4:17 p.m. before its crew encountered the emergency just minutes into the flight.
At about 4:20 p.m., while flying at an altitude of approximately 3,000 feet and three nautical miles from the airport, the pilots reportedly issued a distress call after discovering that an aircraft door had opened during flight.
The crew transmitted a Mayday distress signal, prompting air traffic controllers to initiate emergency procedures and direct the aircraft to return to Abuja.
Airport fire and medical response teams were immediately placed on standby to assist in the event of complications during the emergency landing.
At approximately 4:29 p.m., the pilots contacted the Abuja control tower and requested visual confirmation of the affected door.
The duty air traffic controller reportedly attempted to examine the aircraft using binoculars but was unable to obtain a clear view because of its position.
Despite the potentially dangerous situation, the crew successfully brought the aircraft back to the airport, landing safely on Runway 22 at approximately 4:34 p.m.
Following the landing, the air traffic controller observed that the affected door was missing from the aircraft’s fuselage, suggesting that it had detached during flight.
The aircraft was subsequently directed to the international apron extension, where it was safely parked with the assistance of ground personnel at about 4:40 p.m.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed that the incident had occurred and disclosed that investigators had been deployed to the airport to examine the circumstances surrounding the emergency.
The bureau’s media team said an official statement would be issued to provide further information about the incident.
The cause of the door opening and subsequent detachment had not been established at the time of the initial report.
Aviation investigators are expected to examine relevant aircraft records, maintenance documentation and other available evidence to determine the circumstances that led to the incident.
The number of passengers and crew members on board was not immediately disclosed, while no injuries were reported in the information initially made available.
The incident raises questions about aircraft door security and the importance of pre-flight inspections, although authorities have not established whether any mechanical defect, maintenance issue or operational factor contributed to the occurrence.
The NSIB is expected to provide further updates as its investigation progresses.
