A Nantucket artist experienced a terrifying mid-flight incident when a passenger door unexpectedly popped open during her journey to attend a family funeral. Lizbet Carroll Fuller, 62, was traveling from her million-dollar home on Cape Air Flight 5001 to Virginia with a stop in Boston when the alarming event occurred around 7 a.m. on Monday.
Sudden Rush of Noise and Air
Fuller described the moment the door opened about ten minutes after takeoff from Nantucket Memorial Airport. "There was just like a rush of noise and air," she told the Boston Globe. "Then you register, wow, that just flew open right next to me." The artist managed to capture footage of the incident, showing the door ajar as the plane continued flying.
Pilot's Calm Response Praised
Passengers praised the pilot's composed reaction during the frightening situation. "The pilot turned around and smiled and she just said everyone sit tight, we are all fine," Fuller recalled. Her sister, Sheila Fee, who was seated across from her, echoed this sentiment, stating the pilot's immediate reassurance was crucial in calming nerves.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed it is investigating the incident, noting that the flight crew reported "a passenger door opened during flight" as the aircraft traveled toward Boston Logan International Airport. The plane safely returned to Nantucket around 7:15 a.m., where passengers were transferred to another aircraft to complete their trip.
Nerve-Wracking Experience
Despite maintaining a smile, Fuller described the experience as "nerve-wracking." She noted that the door latch had appeared "a little funky" before takeoff, suggesting the incident wasn't entirely unexpected. Fee, who admitted disliking flying, said the event reinforced her fears but credited the pilot's professionalism.
Other Passengers' Accounts
Another passenger, Lexi Hitchcock, recalled the door blasting open with a sound like "a massive gust of wind." She estimated the plane continued flying for six to eight minutes with the door open before safely landing. "Scary and chilly for sure," Hitchcock added, while praising the pilot's handling of the situation.
Aircraft Details and Response
Cape Air identified the aircraft involved as a Cessna 402, which typically seats nine passengers and serves as the "workhorse" of their fleet. The airline stated the upper portion of the main cabin door opened while the aircraft was at stable altitude, operating normally before returning to Nantucket.
The Cessna 402 has been taken out of service for further evaluation. Nantucket Airport manager Warren Smith commended "the calm and professional actions of the Cape Air pilot" and confirmed emergency response teams closely monitored the return flight, ready to provide assistance if needed.
Remarkably, both Fuller and her sister chose to continue their journey immediately after the incident. "We got back on the horse right away," they told NBC 10 Boston, demonstrating resilience despite the harrowing experience that briefly interrupted their trip to a family funeral in Virginia.
