A small Diamond DA40 airplane’s door flew off the aircraft Monday evening while flying over Cheektowaga, New York, before landing at Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
According to WIVB, a spokesperson for the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority confirmed that the non-commercial plane landed safely at the Signature Aviation terminal at Buffalo Niagara International Airport after the incident occurred mid-flight.
WIVB reported that a spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) explained that the plane was a single-engine Diamond DA40 aircraft. The rear passenger door reportedly flew off the plane prior to the aircraft landing around 5:30 p.m. The FAA is investigating Monday’s incident.
According to ABC News, Cheektowaga Police Department and Fire Dispatch officials were contacted around 6 p.m. on Monday after the incident occurred near Buffalo International Airport.
“A small plane carrying two people reported losing a door to the plane while flying over the area of Stiglmeier Park in Cheektowaga,” the Cheektowaga Police Department said in a statement obtained by ABC News. “The plane is reported to have landed safely.”
An audio recording posted on X, formerly Twitter, by RawsAlerts reveals officials confirming that a door from the aircraft was reported missing.
Cheektowaga police confirmed that the Diamond DA40 aircraft had two people on board and that the pilot of the aircraft indicated that the rear door flew off while the plane was flying near Stiglmeier Park in Cheektowaga. WIVB reported that no property damage or injuries were reported from Monday’s incident.
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An audio recording obtained by WIVB documented the pilot’s exchange with air traffic controllers. The pilot reportedly told air traffic control, “We have an emergency; we’re heading back.” When asked about the emergency, the pilot confirmed that the plane had “lost” its “rear door” during the flight.
WIVB reported that the Cheektowaga Police Department searched for the missing airplane door but that recovery efforts were unsuccessful.
