Metal panel that apparently fell off airplane lands in neighbourhood south of Seattle

KENT, Wash. - A piece of metal that appears to be a landing gear door from an airplane fell to the ground Friday morning in a neighbourhood south of Seattle.

Witnesses say the refrigerator-size panel hit the ground and skipped about 30 feet (9 metres) before stopping in a street. No one in the neighbourhood about 15 miles (24 kilometres) south of Seattle was hurt.

Photos on news station KOMO's website (http://is.gd/NJjJkY ) show part of an identification plate on the object that has the word "aircraft" along with a serial number.

Neighbours say a cargo jet flew low over the area at about the same time the part came down.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.