Private jet makes emergency landing after door detaches mid-air at 3,500 feet in Nigeria

A private jet carrying nine people made an emergency return to an airport in Nigeria after a door separated from the aircraft at an altitude of approximately 3,500 feet. The crew issued a Mayday call, prompting airport authorities to mobilise emergency response teams. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew members escaped without injuries. According to a Gulf News report, the Challenger 604, operated by Triton Aviation, was flying from Abuja to Lagos on Thursday, October 15, when the incident occurred shortly after departure from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Crew declares emergency after door separates mid-flight The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed that the aircraft was climbing through 3,500 feet, around three nautical miles from the airport, when the crew declared an emergency following the separation of a door from the fuselage. Air traffic controllers directed the pilots to return to Abuja, while firefighters, rescue personnel and medical teams were placed on standby in preparation for the aircraft's arrival. An air traffic control incident report cited by Nigerian media said the pilots initially told controllers a door had opened during the flight. However, they were uncertain whether it was still attached to the aircraft. As the jet headed back towards the airport, the crew requested a visual assessment from air traffic control. One controller attempted to inspect the aircraft with binoculars, but its position and approach angle prevented a clear determination of whether the door remained in place. Despite the uncertainty, the pilots landed safely on Runway 22 at Abuja Airport. Authorities subsequently confirmed that all six passengers and three crew members were accounted for, with no injuries reported. Missing door recovered as investigators probe incident The detached aircraft door was later found on farmland near Abuja, according to local media reports. Videos shared online appeared to show people inspecting the recovered component. The NSIB subsequently confirmed that the door had been retrieved and transferred to the bureau's wreckage hangar, where it was secured for further examination. The aircraft, registered in San Marino, was operating under the flight identification DWC052 at the time of the incident. NSIB Director-General Captain Alex Badeh Jr confirmed that an investigation had been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the door's separation and establish what led to the unusual mid-air incident.