A private jet was forced to make an emergency landing in Nigeria after losing a door mid-flight shortly after takeoff, with the crew issuing a mayday distress call as the aircraft climbed to around 3,000 feet.
The incident took place on a Thursday afternoon shortly after the Triton Aviation-operated aircraft departed from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The plane was heading toward Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos when a crew member alerted air traffic control that a door had opened mid-flight.
According to an incident report, the crew transmitted the emergency call as the aircraft reached approximately 3,000 feet. Air traffic controllers instructed the plane to turn back, and it landed safely about 14 minutes after the distress call was issued.
Fire and emergency crews were waiting at the airport when the aircraft returned. Airport personnel subsequently noticed that the door was completely missing, and it was later recovered on a nearby farmland.
No injuries were reported during the incident, though it remains unclear how many individuals were on board at the time. The aircraft involved was identified as a CLSO, which is commonly utilized for private, charter, and corporate travel.
Nigeria's aviation accident investigators have opened a probe to establish the root cause of the incident. Authorities are examining potential factors including mechanical failure and maintenance issues, while the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria have yet to comment.