There was panic 3,500 feet above Abuja on Thursday when the door of a Challenger 604 aircraft separated mid-flight, forcing the crew to declare mayday just minutes after takeoff.
The aircraft, with registration T7-SEI operated by Triton, had departed Abuja for Lagos at 1612 UTC (5:12pm local time) with nine persons on board – three crew members and six passengers.
According to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), the drama occurred at 3 nautical miles, while passing 3,500 feet, when the aircraft’s door suddenly detached from the fuselage.
The crew immediately declared emergency and turned back.
The jet landed safely on Runway 22 at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 1634 UTC, just 22 minutes after takeoff, with all nine souls on board unhurt.
NSIB, in a statement signed by its Director General, Captain Alex Badeh Jr, said it has commenced investigation into the serious incident and has recovered the separated door.
“The door has been recovered and secured at the NSIB wreckage hangar. The Bureau has commenced its investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the occurrence,” the statement said.
The Bureau assured it will provide further updates as investigation progresses.
The Challenger 600 series is a popular business jet often used for charter operations, and a door separation in flight is classified as a serious incident globally, triggering thorough safety probe into maintenance, latching mechanism and operational procedures.
Thursday’s safe return has once again highlighted crew professionalism under pressure – and NSIB’s prompt activation to find out what really happened at 3,500 feet.
