Chilling air traffic control recordings reveal the tense moment a pilot informed ground crews that they had no choice but to turn back after the aircraft’s door unexpectedly came open.

At one point, the pilot struggles to communicate, saying the roar of the wind from the unlatched hatch is drowning out the radio.

“Pull up… the aircraft is down just behind the terminal in the parking lot tree area,” the air traffic controller urgently warns.

Authorities are still working to determine what caused the small plane to go down, while emergency crews have been dispatched to the crash site, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed.

In a post on X, Governor Shapiro stated, “Our team at Pennsylvania State Police is on the ground assisting local first responders following the small private plane crash near Lancaster Airport in Manheim Township.”

He added, “All Commonwealth resources are available as the response continues and more information will be provided as it becomes available.”