A panel door from an American Airlines plane fell from the sky and landed on the Mt. Holly, N.C., golf course as the plane descended into Charlotte. Two golfers were nearby to see the debris land, but no injuries were reported. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.
A panel door from a plane that was landing on Wednesday afternoon fell from the sky and landed just yards away from golfers at Green Meadows Golf Course in Mt. Holly, N.C., the Charlotte-based WSOC TV 9 reported.
The door fell off American Airlines flight 1910 from Dallas that was landing at Charlotte Douglas Airport. Two golfers at the golf course who were nearby where the door fell said they saw the plane flying overhead and then noticed something falling from the sky, WSOC reported.
“It was flying right over top of our heads,” golfer Brian Francis said.
The panel door covers the hydraulic servicing area, which is not a pressurized area of the aircraft. It would not cause a flight safety issue, airline officials said.
Sonny Barrett said fate may have saved him from standing in the path of the door panel, WSOC reported.
“[It was] just twirling around in the air, falling to the ground,” Barrett said. Barrett and two other golfers heard the plane in the clouds flying over the course.
American Airlines said they are working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) who is also investigating. The golfers told WSOC the FAA was angry when they arrived to inspect the part only to learn that an employee for American Airlines had already taken it away, WSOC reported.
The FAA released the following statement: “American Airlines 1910, an Airbus 321 aircraft, lost a small panel door while on approach to Charlotte-Douglas Intl. Airport this morning. A golfer called the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and reported that the panel fell on the Green Meadows Golf Course in Mt. Holly, NC at about 8:20 am. The flight originated at Dallas/Ft. Worth Intl. Airport. The FAA is investigating.”
American Airlines released the following statement: “American Airlines Flight 1910, operated by US Airways, from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Charlotte (CLT) lost a small panel door prior to landing in CLT. The panel has been recovered, and no one was injured. The Airbus A321, operated by a crew of six, was carrying 146 passengers and landed at 8:44 a.m. ET. We have reported this incident to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“The panel door covers the hydraulic servicing area, which is not a pressurized area of the aircraft. It would not cause a flight safety issue.”
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