U2’s Bono Gets Lucky After Plane Door Falls Off Mid-Air Near Berlin Airport

U2 lead singer Bono had a narrow escape after his private plane lost a hatch door on a flight from Dublin to Berlin on Wednesday, media reports said Thursday. Berlin airport authorities reportedly said that the Irish singer was not in any danger.

The rear door of the Learjet 60, about 32-inches by 40-inches in size, fell off mid-air near Schönefeld Airport, Berlin airport spokesman Ralf Kunkel told The Associated Press. The incident reportedly took place when the jet was flying at an altitude of 8,000 feet. The musician was reportedly traveling to the German capital for the Bambi Awards on Thursday. Bono was the only band member on the flight, while the rest of the U2 crew were expected to travel on a later flight.

“He was extremely lucky, the plane could have gone down. About an hour into the journey they heard a big thud coming from the rear of the plane, a source told The Daily Mail. “They were startled for a bit but they continued on and made the descent into Berlin airport. When they landed they were horrified to learn that the compartment at the rear of the plane had completely detached.

“They were at an altitude where anything could have happened and they are all feeling very lucky to be alive," the source reportedly added.

Bono and others on the plane reportedly lost their luggage as it flew out of the plane when the door fell off. Authorities on Thursday were reportedly scouring an area about five miles from the airport in search of Bono’s luggage.

The singer is reportedly due to fly to the U.S. later this week where he is scheduled to appear on Jimmy Fallon’s “Tonight Show” along with other U2 members.

"The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Investigation has begun an investigation into the cause of the incident,” Kunkel reportedly said.