The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has revealed how the door of a private jet detached mid-air in October after a cabin crew member attempted to inspect whether it was properly secured on the instruction of the pilot, forcing the aircraft to declare an emergency and return to Abuja.
The incident involved an aircraft with registration number T7-SEI and flight identification DWC052, which was travelling from Abuja to Lagos when the door suddenly detached during the flight.
Key Highlights
- NSIB reveals details of a private jet door detaching mid-air in October.
- The aircraft was travelling from Abuja to Lagos when the incident occurred.
- The captain instructed a cabin crew member to inspect the aircraft’s door.
- The door reportedly detached when the crew member approached it for a closer inspection.
- The flight crew declared a MAYDAY emergency.
- Abuja Radar Control coordinated the aircraft’s emergency return.
- The aircraft safely landed at Abuja airport.
- A detached aircraft door was reportedly recovered from farmland in the Abuja area.
The development was contained in a preliminary report released by the NSIB on Thursday, November 12, 2026, detailing the sequence of events leading to the incident and the crew’s efforts to manage the emergency.
How the Private Jet Door Detached Mid-Air
According to the report, the incident began during the aircraft’s initial climb when the Pilot Monitoring noticed an unusually rapid increase in cabin altitude of approximately 4,000 feet per minute.
Suspecting a pressurisation problem, the captain instructed the Pilot Flying to reduce the aircraft’s rate of climb in an attempt to address the situation.
The captain subsequently suspected that the aircraft’s door might not have been properly secured and directed the cabin crew to inspect it.
The report stated that at approximately 17:19:07, the captain instructed a cabin crew member to double-check the door, expressing concern over the unusually rapid increase in cabin altitude.
The crew member initially inspected the passenger-crew door from her seated position and reported that it appeared to be properly closed, with the green indicator band aligned.
However, the captain was reportedly not satisfied with the initial inspection and instructed her to stand up and take a closer look.
As she approached the door for a more detailed inspection, it suddenly opened and detached from the aircraft.
Crew Declares MAYDAY Emergency
Following the incident, the captain immediately took control of the aircraft, while the First Officer assumed the Pilot Monitoring duties.
The flight crew also contacted air traffic control and declared an emergency.
“At 17:19:20, DWC052 declared an emergency over the radio, repeatedly transmitting the internationally recognised distress call: MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY,” the report stated.
The crew subsequently informed Abuja Radar Control that the aircraft’s door had opened.
At 17:19:51, Abuja Radar Control acknowledged the emergency, responding: “Door opened copied, MAYDAY copied, confirm able to turn right now.”
The flight crew confirmed at 17:20:20 that the aircraft could turn right and requested a heading and altitude.
Radar Control subsequently approved a northbound heading, which the pilot acknowledged.
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Private Jet Makes Emergency Return to Abuja
The crew later sought clearance to commence an approach to the airport, contacting Abuja Radar Control at 17:25:35 to confirm whether they could proceed.
Two seconds later, the controller informed the crew that the aircraft was nine nautical miles north of the airfield, at POKMO, and cleared it for an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach.
The crew was also instructed to report when established on the approach.
The aircraft subsequently made an air return and landed safely at Abuja airport.
Meanwhile, a video circulating on social media showed the detached door reportedly recovered by farmers from a farmland in the Abuja area.
The NSIB’s preliminary report provides details of the unusual mid-air incident and the emergency response by the flight crew and air traffic controllers. Further investigation is expected to establish the technical circumstances surrounding the door detachment.
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