Incident Overview
On 6 January 2017, at approximately 07:50 local time, a Bombardier DHC-8-400 aircraft operated by Polskie Linie Lotnicze LOT S.A. departed from Warsaw Chopin Airport (EPWA) on a scheduled flight to Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport (EPRZ). Shortly after takeoff, the crew, without declaring an emergency, decided to return to EPWA due to a technical issue.
Nature of the Problem
The cockpit and cabin crew reported a loud noise emanating from the area of the rear service door (2R). The noise made communication among the crew difficult and caused discomfort to passengers.
Response and Landing
At 07:50, the tower (SUP TWR EPWA) declared an alert level 1, and the duty officer (KZ DP) telephonically alerted rescue services. The aircraft landed safely at 08:01 and taxied to stand 43B. The airport duty officer conducted a visual inspection of the aircraft as it landed. The alert was cancelled at 08:02.
Findings
Inspection revealed that the cause of the noise was operational damage to the seal of the rear service door (2R). The damaged seal prevented the cabin from being pressurized, which also contributed to the noise.
Aftermath
The aircraft was handed over to technical services for repair. After the seal was replaced, the aircraft was returned to service the same day at 09:45. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
Probable Cause
The incident was attributed to operational damage to the seal of the rear service door (2R), which caused noise and prevented cabin pressurization.
Safety Actions
The operator recorded the event in its SMS database and classified it according to its criteria. It will be included in safety performance indicators monitored under the company's Safety Management System.