The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has commenced an investigation into an aircraft occurrence involving a Challenger 604 business jet operated by Triton after its door separated shortly after departure from Abuja.
The aircraft, with registration number T7-SEI, was en route to Lagos when the incident occurred on Friday, October 16, 2026, forcing the crew to declare a mayday and return to Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the NSIB, the aircraft departed Abuja at 1612 UTC (5.12 p.m. Nigerian time). However, about three nautical miles into the flight, while passing through an altitude of 3,500 feet, the crew declared an emergency after the aircraft’s door separated.
The flight crew subsequently returned the aircraft to Abuja, where it landed safely on Runway 22 at 1634 UTC (5.34 p.m. Nigerian time).
The Bureau confirmed that nine persons were on board the aircraft at the time of the occurrence, comprising three crew members and six passengers.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or fatalities in the statement issued by the investigation agency.
Following the incident, the NSIB recovered the separated door and secured it at its wreckage hangar as part of the ongoing investigation.
The Bureau said its investigation would establish the circumstances surrounding the occurrence, including the events leading to the door’s separation shortly after take-off.
The investigation is expected to examine relevant evidence to determine what happened during the flight and identify any safety issues that may have contributed to the incident.
The NSIB did not immediately disclose the possible cause of the door separation or indicate whether any preliminary findings had been established.
The Bureau emphasised that the investigation was ongoing and promised to provide further updates as it progresses.
The development comes as another occurrence requiring an emergency response, with the crew’s prompt declaration of a mayday followed by a safe return to Abuja.
The NSIB is Nigeria’s statutory agency responsible for investigating civil aviation accidents and serious incidents, with the objective of determining their causes and making safety recommendations to prevent similar occurrences.
The Bureau’s investigation into the Challenger 604 occurrence will focus on establishing the facts surrounding the incident rather than assigning blame or liability.
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