An Indian air ambulance flying from Agartala to Kolkata made an emergency landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Sunday afternoon after a cabin pressurisation fault damaged its main door and forced it partly open in mid-air, airport authorities said.

The aircraft, a Beechcraft King Air C90A registered VT-HYA and operated by SKB Infracon, had seven people on board: two pilots, the patient, a doctor, a paramedic and two companions. It left Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport in Agartala at 1:05pm Indian time on a medical evacuation mission, according to a statement from the airport authorities.

While the plane was climbing above 12,000 feet, the pressurisation system faulted, damaging the main door and causing it to open partially, the statement said. The pilot-in-command, Captain Punya Anup, declared an emergency. Captain Tanuj Sharma was the co-pilot.

Airport authorities activated emergency preparations before the aircraft arrived, positioning fire and rescue vehicles, ambulances and medical teams. The plane landed safely at 1:40pm local time, and the airport said all crew and other occupants were safe.

The patient, identified as Indian national Anjana Bhowmik, was taken to Kurmitola Multicare Specialised Hospital, where the attending doctor declared her dead. The cause of death was not stated.

She was travelling with physician Firoz Khan, paramedic Azim Khan and two companions, Santa Bhowmik and Deep Jyoti Mishra, all Indian nationals, according to the passenger list.

Airport authorities said they assisted the crew and occupants on humanitarian grounds and under international cooperation even though the required clearance formalities had not been completed. They also coordinated with the Indian embassy in Dhaka for diplomatic clearances, and embassy representatives visited the airport.