Nigeria’s Safety Investigation Bureau has opened an investigation after a cabin door separated from a Bombardier Challenger 604 operated by Triton Aviation shortly after departure from Abuja. The aircraft, registered T7-SEI, was carrying nine people on a flight to Lagos when the crew declared a Mayday at about 3,500 feet. It returned safely to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, with no injuries reported.
The aircraft departed Abuja at 16:12 UTC on 15 October and encountered the incident approximately three nautical miles from the airport while climbing. The crew sought confirmation from air traffic control about the door’s status before returning to the departure airport. The Challenger landed on Runway 22 at 16:34 UTC.
The separated door was recovered from a nearby farm and secured at the NSIB’s wreckage hangar for examination. The investigation will assess the circumstances of the occurrence, but no cause has been established. Available information does not identify the affected door or indicate whether maintenance, design or crew factors were involved.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the incident and referred investigative responsibility to the NSIB. Director General Captain Alex Badeh Jr said further updates would be provided as the investigation progresses. Triton Aviation has not publicly commented.