NSIB begins probe as private jet makes emergency landing in Abuja after losing door mid-air

A private aircraft operated by Triton Aviation made an emergency landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja shortly after losing its door mid-air on Thursday.

 

Sources at the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed the incident to TheCable on Friday.

 

“The incident happened yesterday and investigations are ongoing,” a source said.

 

According to a Punch report on Friday, the aircraft lost its door mid-air before returning to the airport.

 

Citing an incident report, the publication said the aircraft, with registration number T7-SEI and flight identification DWC052, was en route to the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, when the incident occurred at about 4:20 pm.

 

According to the report, the aircraft was “about three nautical miles from the airport, climbing through 3,000 feet, when the crew transmitted a distress call: ‘Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.”

 

Following the distress call, the report said airport fire and emergency personnel, as well as the medical team, were immediately alerted and placed on standby.

 

 

It added that fire and rescue teams were also directed to designated positions in preparation for the aircraft’s return.

 

The incident report further noted that at about 4:29 pm UTC, while in contact with the Abuja control tower, the crew asked whether the controllers could confirm if the door was open.

 

“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,” the report said.

 

According to the report, the aircraft landed safely on runway 22 at approximately 4:34 pm UTC, about 14 minutes after the Mayday call.

 

 

Following the landing, the duty controller was said to observe that the aircraft’s door was missing from the fuselage.

 

The jet was subsequently taxied to the international apron extension and parked with the assistance of a marshaller.

 

Furthermore, a video trending on social media platforms showed an aircraft door on a farmland.

 

According to a report by Billionaires.Africa, NSIB said the door, which came down on a farmland near Abuja, has been retrieved.

 

“The door has been recovered and secured at the NSIB wreckage hangar,” the agency said.

 

NSIB said it “has commenced its investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the occurrence” and will provide updates as the work progresses.