A routine Cape Air hop from Nantucket to Boston turned into an unnerving surprise on Monday when the upper portion of the main cabin door opened shortly after takeoff, forcing the plane to circle back to Nantucket Memorial Airport. The crew landed safely, no one was hurt, and the airline quickly pulled the aircraft from service while passengers were rebooked to Boston on another plane.
What the airline says
In a statement to CBS Boston, a Cape Air spokesperson said the "upper portion of the main cabin door opened" shortly after departure, although the "aircraft continued to operate normally." The carrier said it is following established safety procedures and that the plane has been removed from service while technicians perform an inspection.
Plane identified as a Cessna 402C
Flight tracking records list the aircraft as a Cessna 402C, a nine passenger twin that Cape Air commonly uses on short regional hops. Logs at AirportInfo identify the aircraft type, and Cape Air’s own fleet materials describe the 402 as the "workhorse" of its operation.
Passenger video and reaction
Nantucket resident Lizbet Fuller captured the partially opened door on video and later shared it on social media. She told the Nantucket Current that passengers were able to board a different plane to Boston after the unexpected return. Fuller said the pilot was calm and reassuring, which helped keep the cabin composed despite the mid air door drama.
Inspections and oversight
Federal agencies typically review incidents like this, and the FAA notes that preliminary information on accidents and incidents is often posted quickly while more detailed inspections move forward. The agency’s guidance on post incident reporting lays out how carriers and regulators coordinate on next steps, from documentation to any required maintenance. Cape Air says it will take any actions deemed necessary once the inspection is complete.
Context and safety takeaways
The Cessna 402C is a common workhorse on short regional routes, but isolated mechanical issues do occur. In September 2024, a Cape Air 402 carried out a single gear landing at Logan without injury. Industry operators say the standard playbook, grounding the plane for a thorough inspection and getting passengers onto another aircraft, is consistent with routine safety practice when something goes wrong in flight.
