NSIB Launches Investigation into Challenger 604 Door Incident

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) initiated an investigation on October 16 into a mid-air incident involving a Challenger 604 aircraft, registration number T7-SEI, operated by Triton. The aircraft took off from Abuja at 1612 UTC, bound for Lagos.

At three nautical miles and 3,500 feet, the crew declared a mayday after the aircraft's door separated mid-air. Captain Alex Badeh Jr., the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the NSIB, confirmed that the aircraft returned to Abuja and landed safely on Runway 22 at 1634 UTC, with nine individuals on board, including three crew members and six passengers.

The door was recovered and secured at the NSIB's wreckage hangar for investigation. During the incident, Abuja Tower established contact with the aircraft, identified as DWC052, at 1629 UTC, but the duty air traffic controller could not confirm the door's status.

Upon landing, the missing door was confirmed visible on the aircraft's fuselage.