A Bombardier Challenger business jet lost its main cabin door shortly after taking off from Abuja, Nigeria, on October 15, 2026. The crew declared a Mayday emergency and returned to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where the aircraft landed safely with all nine people on board unhurt. Nigeria's safety investigation agency has opened a probe, and the detached door was later recovered from farmland near the airport.
A private jet operated by Triton Aviation made an emergency landing in Abuja, Nigeria, on Thursday, October 15, 2026, after its main cabin door separated from the aircraft minutes into the flight. All nine people aboard were accounted for and no injuries were reported.
What happened
The aircraft, flight DWC052, departed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at 16:17 UTC bound for Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, according to Business Day Nigeria. Reports differ slightly on the exact altitude: Business Day put the aircraft at 3,000 feet when the door came off three minutes after takeoff, while Gulf News and TVC News reported the crew was climbing through 3,500 feet, roughly three nautical miles from the airport.
The flight crew issued a 'Mayday, Mayday, Mayday' call to Abuja Approach Radar after the door separated, and air traffic control vectored the aircraft back toward the airport. Emergency vehicles were positioned on standby at taxiways near the runway, Business Day reported.
The jet landed on runway 22 at 16:34 UTC and taxied to the International Apron parking bay at 16:40 UTC, according to Business Day's account of the sequence.
The aircraft and those on board
Gulf News and TVC News identified the aircraft as a Bombardier Challenger 604 with registration T7-SEI, described by Gulf News as San Marino-registered; Business Day's report referred to it as a Challenger 600. Nine people were on board — three crew members and six passengers — and all were accounted for after landing, TVC News and Gulf News reported.
Investigation and door recovery
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed the incident and said it had opened an inquiry to determine the cause. The detached door was later found on farmland near Abuja and moved to the NSIB's wreckage hangar, TVC News reported.
The door has been recovered and secured at the NSIB wreckage hangar. The Bureau has commenced [its investigation].
— Captain Alex Badeh Jr., Director-General, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (quoted by TVC News)
Gulf News reported that no cause — mechanical failure, maintenance error or another factor — has yet been determined.
Date: October 15, 2026
Flight: DWC052, Triton Aviation, Abuja to Lagos
Aircraft: Bombardier Challenger 600-series business jet, registration T7-SEI
People on board: 9 (3 crew, 6 passengers), none injured
Door location: recovered from farmland near Abuja; secured at NSIB hangar
Investigation: opened by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, ongoing
Questions
What caused the door to detach?
The cause has not been determined. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has opened an inquiry, and Gulf News reported that investigators have not yet established whether mechanical failure, a maintenance issue or another factor was responsible.
Was anyone hurt?
No. All nine people on board — three crew and six passengers — were accounted for and uninjured after the aircraft landed safely back in Abuja, according to TVC News and Gulf News.
What happened to the door that fell off?
TVC News reported the door was recovered from farmland near Abuja and secured at the NSIB's wreckage hangar for the investigation.
What type of aircraft was involved?
Gulf News and TVC News identified it as a Bombardier Challenger 604 with registration T7-SEI; Business Day referred to it as a Challenger 600. It was operated by Triton Aviation on flight DWC052 from Abuja to Lagos.
Who is investigating the incident?
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has commenced a probe to determine the cause of the door separation, according to TVC News.
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