Airplane Makes Emergency Landing at Myrtle Beach Airport After Door Falls Off, FAA Says
Myrtle Beach, SC – In a harrowing event that occurred earlier this week, a small airplane was forced to make an emergency landing at Myrtle Beach International Airport when a door became dislodged mid-flight. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed the incident.
Unexpected Incident
The detached door tumbled to the ground and ended up in a residential yard in the Market Common neighborhood. Wendy Hodges, a local resident and eyewitness who took pictures of the detached door, stated, “It was all intact and it was lying nicely between the two homes.” She also expressed her astonishment and concern about the safety of the pilot and the passenger of the aircraft.
The Diamond DA40, a small single-engine plane operated by Indianapolis-based Lift Aircraft LLC, had to alter its original route which was headed to Florence Regional Airport. Flight data reveals that the plane made a quick turnaround seven minutes after initial takeoff, reaching a maximum altitude of 1,500 feet.
Anonymous Heroes
Two people were aboard the instructional flight. Despite the terrifying ordeal and the minor damage to the aircraft, they both emerged unscathed.
Statements from affiliated Parties
In a statement to the press, a spokesperson for Lift discussed the response of the flight crew to the incident. “Shortly after takeoff, one of our aircraft experienced the loss of a cabin door. The crew aboard executed their standard response procedure to return to the field and landed without incident,” they commented. They also mentioned that the door will be examined as part of the investigation into the incident.
Past Incidents
This is not the first time a plane registered to Lift Training Academy has had to make an emergency landing. A similar incident occurred in May where a plane had to land on Highway 501 in Horry County.
Investigation Underway
The FAA has opened an investigation into the incident. No statement has been released yet by representatives from Myrtle Beach International Airport. With the aircraft door already recovered from the residential yard and now part of the FAA investigation, residents and aviation enthusiasts are keenly awaiting the results of the investigation which will hopefully prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
In the Aftermath
While the incident has surely caused distress and raised safety concerns among the local population, no physical injuries or property damage were reported. The swift and professional response of the crew in averting a potential catastrophe was commendable and resulted in the plane landing at the airport without further incident.
Awaiting Updates
Updates regarding the situation will be provided as soon as more information becomes available. As the investigation continues, the focus turns to the examination of the aircraft and the potential causes and implications of the detached door.
