NSIB Investigates Mid-Air Door Loss on Abuja Flight

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched an investigation after a foreign-registered Challenger 604 aircraft operated by Triton Aviation lost a door mid-air shortly after departing Abuja for Lagos.

The aircraft, with registration number T7-SEI, took off from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 16:12 UTC on Thursday.

According to the NSIB, the aircraft was about three nautical miles from the airport and climbing through 3,500 feet when the crew declared a “Mayday” following the separation of the door.

The bureau disclosed the development in a statement on Friday.

The aircraft subsequently returned to Abuja and landed safely on Runway 22 at 16:34 UTC, with nine people on board, comprising three crew members and six passengers.

The Challenger 604 is registered in San Marino, a microstate in Southern Europe surrounded by Italy.

NSIB recovers missing door

In the statement signed by its Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Alex Badeh Jr, the NSIB said the missing door had been recovered and secured at its wreckage hangar.

“The Bureau has commenced its investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the occurrence,” the statement said.

The bureau said it would provide further updates as the investigation progressed.

Meanwhile the incident triggered an emergency response at the Abuja airport, with fire and rescue personnel and medical teams placed on standby ahead of the aircraft’s return.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority had earlier confirmed the incident, noting that the investigation fell under the purview of the NSIB.

The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the door separation and determine the factors that led to the incident.