Panic broke out at the Abuja airport on Thursday after a CL60 aircraft operated by Triton Aviation lost a door mid-air, forcing its crew to declare an emergency shortly after take-off from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
The aircraft, with registration number T7-SEI and flight identification DWC052, was heading to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, when the incident occurred at about 4:20 pm, according to The PUNCH.
It is reported that the crew alerted the air traffic control tower that a door had opened mid-flight.
The approach radar controller subsequently directed the aircraft to return to Abuja for an emergency landing.
The report further indicated that the aircraft departed Runway 22 at 4:17 pm UTC. It was about three nautical miles from the airport and climbing through 3,000 feet when the crew issued a distress call, declaring, “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.”
Following the distress call, airport fire and emergency personnel, alongside the medical team, were immediately alerted and placed on standby. Fire and rescue teams were also deployed to designated positions in preparation for the aircraft’s return.
The incident report stated that at about 4:29 pm UTC, the crew, while communicating with the Abuja control tower, asked air traffic controllers to confirm whether the aircraft’s 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.
The aircraft eventually landed safely on Runway 22 at about 4:34 pm UTC, approximately 14 minutes after the crew issued the Mayday call.
After the landing, the duty controller observed that the aircraft’s door was missing from the fuselage, highlighting the severity of the incident.
The aircraft was subsequently taxied to the international apron extension, where it was parked with the assistance of a marshaller.
