Panic struck the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Thursday afternoon after a private jet operated by Triton Aviation lost a door mid-air shortly after takeoff, forcing the crew to issue a distress call and make an emergency landing.

The aircraft, a CL60 model registered as T7-SEI (flight identification DWC052), was en route to Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos when the mid-air failure occurred at approximately 4:20 PM.

According to an official incident report, the jet took off from Runway 22 at 4:17 PM UTC.

Passing through 3,000 feet while climbing roughly three nautical miles from the airfield, the crew transmitted an urgent distress signal over the radio: "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday," informing air traffic control that a door had opened in flight.

Emergency medical, fire, and rescue services were immediately dispatched to standby positions along the runway. During the approach back to the airfield, air traffic controllers attempted to visually inspect the aircraft using binoculars but were unable to verify the door's status due to distance.

The jet landed safely on Runway 22 at 4:34 PM UTC—14 minutes after declaring the emergency. Upon touchdown, ground controllers confirmed that the door was completely missing from the fuselage.

In a surprising turn, video footage surfaced on social media showing local farmers holding the detached aircraft door, which they discovered in a field in the Abuja area while returning from work.

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, confirmed the incident, stating that official investigations are being led by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).

A door detachment at 3,000 feet causes rapid cabin depressurization and high wind resistance, requiring pilots to immediately descend, slow airspeed, and execute emergency return procedures to prevent structural damage or loss of control.

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