A private jet carrying nine people made an emergency landing in Abuja on Thursday after one of its doors came off in flight at about 3,500 feet, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has confirmed.
The Challenger 604, operated by Triton Aviation, had just taken off from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, bound for Lagos on October 15, 2026. The aircraft was roughly three nautical miles from the airport when the crew declared an emergency after the door separated from the fuselage.
The pilots issued a Mayday call and asked to return to Abuja. Air traffic controllers directed the jet back, while firefighters, rescue teams and medical personnel were placed on standby.
According to an air traffic control incident report cited by Nigerian media, the crew first told controllers that a door had opened during the flight. They then tried to establish whether it was still attached to the aircraft, and requested a visual inspection as they returned.
One controller reportedly tried to check the aircraft with binoculars but could not determine the door’s condition because of the jet’s position and approach angle.
The aircraft landed safely on Runway 22. All nine occupants, six passengers and three crew members, were accounted for, and no injuries were reported.
Door found on farmland
Local media reports say the missing door was later found on farmland near Abuja. Videos on social media showed people examining what appeared to be the detached component.
The NSIB later confirmed that the door had been recovered and secured at its wreckage hangar for examination. The aircraft, registered in San Marino, was operating under flight identification DWC052.
NSIB begins investigation
The bureau has opened an inquiry into why the door detached during flight. Its Director-General, Captain Alex Badeh Jr, confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and said further updates would follow.
Investigators are expected to examine the recovered door and other evidence. No cause has been given so far, and it remains unclear whether the incident was due to a mechanical fault, a maintenance issue or another factor.
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