MBTA investigating after ceiling panel falls at Harvard station

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The MBTA is investigating after a panel fell from the ceiling of Harvard station Tuesday morning.

The ceiling panel came tumbling down shortly after 7:30 a.m. on a southbound Red Line platform, an MBTA spokesperson told Boston 25 News. Nobody was injured in the incident and train service was not impacted, the MBTA added.

Red Line riders in Cambridge sounded off after yet another incident at Harvard Square Station.

“It shakes my confidence,” said rider Jaz Nettrour. “[MBTA construction] all seems to be reactionary.”

“I usually look up now when I’m waiting for the train,” she added. “You can just see a bunch of things that could possibly fall down... You’ve seen all of these close calls, and someone like just misses it or it falls right in front of them.”

Andrew McGrath, another rider, added, “It’s like playing Russian roulette... It’s like do or die!”

Boston 25 News was able to acquire surveillance footage that shows when that ceiling panel fell to the ground.

New surveillance footage shows part of Harvard Square ceiling fall to the ground (MBTA)

New surveillance footage shows part of Harvard Square ceiling fall to the ground (MBTA)

The MBTA says the panel is made of light tin material and although it did show some signs of corrosion, the exact reason for the fall is still under investigation by engineers and facility management.

Similar panels inside the station will be removed overnight, the MBTA said.

Thursday’s falling panel comes a little over two years after another panel fell on the very same platform, narrowly missing a woman climbing the stairs.

“In that moment… I didn’t really know, was is it a one-off situation or if more of the ceiling tiles were going to come falling down,” said Cianna Navarro, the woman who was one step away from being hit by the falling panel. “It has made me appreciate life more, I guess, you know, don’t take things for granted.”

The MBTA removed 76 ceiling panels at the station following that 2023 incident.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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