BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released its preliminary report on how the passenger-crew door of a private jet fell off shortly after take-off from Abuja, forcing the pilots to declare an emergency and return to the airport.
The incident involved a Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft, with registration number T7-SEI, operated by Triton Aviation Limited, on October 15, 2026.
The aircraft, operating as flight DWC052, was on a non-scheduled flight from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with nine people on board. They comprised two pilots, one cabin crew member and six passengers.
According to the report released via a statement signed by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr NSIB on November 11, the incident occurred at about 5:19pm during the aircraft’s initial climb after take-off.
The pilots noticed an unusual rise in cabin altitude, suggesting a possible problem with the system that controls air pressure inside the aircraft.
The captain subsequently instructed the cabin crew member to double-check the main cabin door.
However, as the crew member approached the passenger-crew door to inspect it, the door opened and detached from the aircraft.
Following the incident, the pilots declared an emergency and contacted Abuja Air Traffic Control for permission to return immediately.
The aircraft landed safely on Runway 22 at about 5:34pm, with all nine occupants escaping without injuries. However, the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The NSIB said it immediately deployed investigators to the scene after receiving notification of the incident on the same day. The team began searching for the missing door and carried out initial assessments.
The detached door was later recovered from a cornfield in Gui Village, Abuja Municipal Area Council, about five miles southwest of the airport.
The Bureau explained that the preliminary report contains facts established so far, including initial findings based on available evidence and immediate safety recommendations arising from issues identified during the investigation.
It, however, cautioned that the report does not establish what caused the door to open and detach from the aircraft, stressing that investigations are still ongoing.
The NSIB said a final report containing a detailed analysis of the incident, conclusions and further safety recommendations, where necessary, would be released after the investigation is completed.
The investigation is being conducted in line with Annex 13 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, which sets international standards for investigating aircraft accidents and serious incidents.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
