U2’s Bono Gets Mid-Air Scare After Learjet Door Falls Off During Flight To Germany

U2 lead singer Bono has gotten the scare of his life after the door of the Learjet he was flying in fell off in mid-air on its way to Germany.

ABC News reported that the Learjet door fell off while the plane was 8,000 feet in the air. All the luggage fell out of the plane, but none of the passengers were hurt in the incident.

According to the Daily Mail, the Irish rock star was on board the Learjet 60 D-CGEO making the two-hour afternoon trip from Dublin to Berlin. He was the only member of U2 on the plane, as bandmates Larry Mullen, the Edge, and Adam Clayton were due to fly separately late last night. The group was lined up to accept an award at the Bambi International Music awards in Berlin, but Bono flew out early to attend a diplomatic function with the German minister of economic cooperation and development, Gerd Mueller. But when Bono and his crew reached the German coast, flying at about 8,000 feet, the tailgate of the plane became detached.

The Business Standard reporting on the incident said that German authorities have confirmed the private jet landed with damage to its tailgate, and police are investigating the incident.

A source close to the singer gave an initial reaction to the plane door drama.

“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.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.The entire door along with Bono and his companions’ luggage had fallen out mid-air. They don’t know if the door and the contents landed over water or land but they were extremely lucky. They were at an altitude where anything could have happened and they are all feeling very lucky to be alive.”

Bono, who is also a venture capitalist and businessman, has been criticized for his views on Ireland’s corporate tax regime, according to the Inquisitr.

Outside the band, Bono is managing director of Elevation Partners, and owns The Clarence Hotel in Dublin. He was granted a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II and was named Time magazine’s Person of the Year in 2005.

The Learjet door drama is sure to have left Bono more than a little wary as he prepares to fly to America later this week.

[Image credit via Getty Images]