A private jet operated by Triton Aviation made an emergency landing in Abuja after losing a door mid-flight, forcing the crew to issue a mayday distress call shortly after take-off.
The incident occurred at approximately 4:20 pm on Thursday, 15 October, as the aircraft was travelling from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
According to an incident report obtained by The Punch, a crew member alerted air traffic control after a door opened as the aircraft climbed to approximately 3,000 feet.
“Mayday, mayday, mayday,” the crew reportedly transmitted, prompting air traffic control to direct the aircraft back to Abuja.
The jet landed safely about 14 minutes after the distress call, with fire and emergency response teams standing by. No injuries were reported.
Airport personnel later discovered that the door was missing. It was subsequently recovered on nearby farmland in the vicinity of Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, according to reports by The Punch, Gulf News and Sahara Reporters. The precise location of the farmland was not disclosed. The number of people aboard the aircraft was not immediately established.
Aviation accident investigators have reportedly launched an investigation to determine the cause of the incident, including whether mechanical failure, a maintenance issue or another factor led to the door detaching mid-flight. The cause remains unknown pending the outcome of the investigation.
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