Kamal Ghorui
A routine regional flight from Nantucket turned into an airborne scare on Monday when part of the cabin door unexpectedly opened shortly after takeoff, forcing the pilot to turn the aircraft around and return to Nantucket Memorial Airport as a precaution.The Cape Air flight, bound for Boston, had just climbed out of the vacation hotspot island off the Massachusetts coast when the upper section of the main cabin door popped open mid‑air, according to the airline. Video circulating on social media showed the top portion of the door ajar with the sky and ocean visible through the gap, while passengers remained seated nearby. Despite the alarming visuals, the small aircraft, a 10‑seat Cessna, remained stable and continued to operate normally. The flight crew calmly brought the plane back to the departure airport, where it landed safely. There were no injuries reported, and all passengers were later re‑booked on another aircraft.Passenger Lizbet Fuller, who captured the unsettling footage, told local media that the rush of noise and blast of air caught many by surprise. “At first I thought I was going to get sucked out,” she said, describing the moment the door opened. “But the pilot was amazing and made everyone feel calm.”In a statement, Cape Air confirmed that the plane has been removed from service pending a thorough inspection and evaluation. “We are following all established safety procedures and will take any necessary actions based on our findings. The safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority,” the airline said.Airport officials also praised the professionalism of the flight crew and noted that emergency responders were on standby as the aircraft returned to the tarmac. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is now reviewing the incident to determine what caused the cabin door malfunction.
