Preliminary Report Released on Bombardier Aircraft Door Separation Incident in Abuja

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has shared its preliminary report on an incident involving a Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft, registered as T7-SEI. The aircraft, operated by Triton Aviation Limited, experienced a separation of its Passenger-Crew Door shortly after taking off from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on October 15, 2026.

The flight, designated DWC052, was on a non-scheduled trip from Abuja to Lagos and had nine people on board, including two pilots, one cabin crew member, and six passengers. Around 5:19 PM local time, the flight crew noticed an unusual increase in cabin altitude, indicating a potential pressurization problem. The captain then asked the cabin crew to check the main cabin door.

As the cabin crew approached the door for inspection, it unexpectedly opened and detached from the aircraft. The flight crew declared an emergency and worked with Abuja Air Traffic Control to return to the airport. The aircraft landed safely on Runway 22 at about 5:34 PM.

All nine people on board were unharmed, but the aircraft suffered significant damage. After being informed of the incident, the NSIB quickly sent investigators to the site to find the detached door. The door was later located in a cornfield in Gui Village, about five miles southwest of the airport.