diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 06cff1c..7891c56 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -1056,6 +1056,15 @@ Sovereignty and service always.`;
   // Register focus trap on document (always listening, gated by class check)
   document.addEventListener('keydown', trapFocusInOverlay);
 
+  // Escape key closes crisis overlay (returns focus to chat input)
+  document.addEventListener('keydown', function(e) {
+    if (e.key === 'Escape' && crisisOverlay.classList.contains('active')) {
+      if (!overlayDismissBtn.disabled) {
+        overlayDismissBtn.click();
+      }
+    }
+  });
+
   overlayDismissBtn.addEventListener('click', function() {
     if (!overlayDismissBtn.disabled) {
       crisisOverlay.classList.remove('active');
diff --git a/tests/test_crisis_overlay_focus_trap.py b/tests/test_crisis_overlay_focus_trap.py
index f657afc..d0b86d5 100644
--- a/tests/test_crisis_overlay_focus_trap.py
+++ b/tests/test_crisis_overlay_focus_trap.py
@@ -53,5 +53,19 @@ class TestCrisisOverlayFocusTrap(unittest.TestCase):
         )
 
 
+    def test_overlay_escape_key_closes_overlay(self):
+        """Escape key closes crisis overlay and returns focus to chat input."""
+        # Verify the Escape handler exists in the HTML
+        self.assertRegex(
+            self.html,
+            r"e\.key\s*===\s*['"]Escape['"].*crisisOverlay\.classList\.contains\('active'\)",
+            'Expected Escape key handler to check for active crisis overlay.',
+        )
+        self.assertRegex(
+            self.html,
+            r"overlayDismissBtn\.click\(\)",
+            'Expected Escape key handler to trigger overlay dismiss button click.',
+        )
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()