The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released a preliminary report on an incident involving a private jet with registration number T7-SEI, operating as flight DWC052 from Abuja to Lagos in October. The aircraft experienced an unusual increase in cabin altitude shortly after take-off, prompting the captain to suspect a possible pressurisation problem. This led to an emergency declaration and an immediate return to Abuja, where the aircraft landed safely.
According to the NSIB report, during the aircraft's initial climb, the Pilot Monitoring noticed that the cabin altitude was rising at an unusually high rate of approximately 4,000 feet per minute. Concerned about the abnormal reading, the captain instructed the Pilot Flying to reduce the aircraft's rate of climb in an attempt to address the suspected pressurisation issue. The captain then suspected that the aircraft's door might not have been properly secured.
The captain requested an additional inspection by the cabin crew, instructing them to double-check the door at about 17:19:07. The cabin crew member initially examined the passenger-crew door from her seated position and informed the flight crew that it appeared to be properly secured. However, the captain requested a more thorough physical inspection, asking the crew member "to stand up and take a closer look."
As the cabin crew member approached the door to carry out the closer examination, it suddenly opened and became detached from the aircraft while still in flight. The captain immediately assumed control of the aircraft, while the First Officer took over the Pilot Monitoring responsibilities to facilitate the emergency response. The flight crew subsequently contacted air traffic control to communicate the situation and request assistance.
At 17:19:20, flight DWC052 declared an emergency over the radio, repeatedly transmitting the internationally recognised distress call: MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY. The crew also notified Abuja Radar Control that the aircraft's door had opened during the flight. Abuja Radar Control acknowledged the emergency at 17:19:51 and provided further instructions to the pilots.
As the crew worked towards returning the aircraft to the airport, they obtained clearance to begin the landing approach. At 17:25:35, the pilot sought confirmation on whether the aircraft could proceed with the approach. The air traffic controller informed the crew that the aircraft was approximately nine nautical miles north of the airfield and cleared it to conduct an Instrument Landing System approach.
Footage circulating online showed the detached aircraft door after it was reportedly recovered by farmers from farmland within the Abuja area. The preliminary report provides an account of the sequence of events leading to the door separation, the flight crew's response, and the subsequent emergency return to Abuja. Further investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and the factors responsible for the door becoming detached during flight.
Key points
- The incident involved a private jet with registration number T7-SEI, operating as flight DWC052 from Abuja to Lagos.
- The aircraft experienced an unusual increase in cabin altitude shortly after take-off, prompting an emergency declaration.
- The detached aircraft door was recovered by farmers from farmland within the Abuja area.
