The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has disclosed how the door of a private jet detached mid-air during a flight from Abuja to Lagos in October, forcing the crew to declare an emergency and return to the airport.

According to a preliminary investigation report released on Thursday, the incident involved an aircraft with registration number T7-SEI and flight identification DWC052.

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The report explained that the incident occurred during the aircraft’s initial climb after the Pilot Monitoring noticed that cabin altitude was rising unusually quickly, at approximately 4,000 feet per minute.

Suspecting a problem with the aircraft’s pressurisation system, the captain instructed the Pilot Flying to reduce the rate of climb.

The captain subsequently suspected that the aircraft’s door might not have been properly secured and directed a cabin crew member to inspect it.

At about 17:19:07, the captain instructed the crew member to double-check the door because of the unusual increase in cabin altitude.

The crew member initially examined the passenger-crew door from her seat and reported that it appeared properly closed, with its green indicator band aligned.

However, the captain requested a closer inspection, asking her to stand up and examine the door.

The situation took a dramatic turn as the crew member approached it.

The door suddenly opened and detached from the aircraft.

Following the incident, the captain immediately took control of the aircraft, while the first officer assumed the Pilot Monitoring responsibilities.

The crew promptly contacted air traffic control and declared an emergency.

The report stated that at 17:19:20, the aircraft transmitted the internationally recognised distress signal, “MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY”.

The pilots also informed Abuja Radar Control that the aircraft’s door had opened.

At 17:19:51, the control centre acknowledged the emergency and asked whether the aircraft could turn right.

The crew confirmed at 17:20:20 that it could make the turn and requested a heading and altitude.

Radar Control subsequently approved a northbound heading, which the pilot acknowledged.

At 17:25:35, the crew contacted the control centre to seek clearance to begin an approach.

Two seconds later, the controller informed the pilots that the aircraft was nine nautical miles north of the airfield, around POKMO, and cleared it for an Instrument Landing System approach.

The crew was instructed to report once established on the approach.

The aircraft subsequently returned to Abuja Airport, while a video sighted by PUNCH reportedly showed the detached door recovered by farmers from farmland in the Abuja area.

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The NSIB’s preliminary report provides an account of the sequence of events leading to the emergency, although further investigation findings were not included in the report.