diff --git a/src/plugins/unified_doc_viewer/public/components/doc_viewer_flyout/doc_viewer_flyout.tsx b/src/plugins/unified_doc_viewer/public/components/doc_viewer_flyout/doc_viewer_flyout.tsx
index 540c04a206c618..be0ab585b15a81 100644
--- a/src/plugins/unified_doc_viewer/public/components/doc_viewer_flyout/doc_viewer_flyout.tsx
+++ b/src/plugins/unified_doc_viewer/public/components/doc_viewer_flyout/doc_viewer_flyout.tsx
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
  */
 
 import React, { useMemo, useCallback, type ComponentType } from 'react';
-import { get } from 'lodash';
 import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
 import { css } from '@emotion/react';
 import type { DataView } from '@kbn/data-views-plugin/public';
@@ -34,6 +33,7 @@ import useLocalStorage from 'react-use/lib/useLocalStorage';
 import type { ToastsStart } from '@kbn/core-notifications-browser';
 import type { DocViewFilterFn, DocViewRenderProps } from '@kbn/unified-doc-viewer/types';
 import { UnifiedDocViewer } from '../lazy_doc_viewer';
+import { useFlyoutA11y } from './use_flyout_a11y';
 
 export interface UnifiedDocViewerFlyoutProps {
   'data-test-subj'?: string;
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ function getIndexByDocId(hits: DataTableRecord[], id: string) {
 }
 
 export const FLYOUT_WIDTH_KEY = 'unifiedDocViewer:flyoutWidth';
+
 /**
  * Flyout displaying an expanded row details
  */
@@ -129,24 +130,29 @@ export function UnifiedDocViewerFlyout({
 
   const onKeyDown = useCallback(
     (ev: React.KeyboardEvent) => {
-      const nodeClasses = get(ev, 'target.className', '');
-      if (typeof nodeClasses === 'string' && nodeClasses.includes('euiDataGrid')) {
+      if (ev.target instanceof HTMLElement && ev.target.closest('.euiDataGrid__content')) {
         // ignore events triggered from the data grid
         return;
       }
 
-      const nodeName = get(ev, 'target.nodeName', null);
-      if (typeof nodeName === 'string' && nodeName.toLowerCase() === 'input') {
+      if (ev.key === keys.ESCAPE) {
+        ev.preventDefault();
+        ev.stopPropagation();
+        onClose();
+      }
+
+      if (ev.target instanceof HTMLInputElement) {
         // ignore events triggered from the search input
         return;
       }
+
       if (ev.key === keys.ARROW_LEFT || ev.key === keys.ARROW_RIGHT) {
         ev.preventDefault();
         ev.stopPropagation();
         setPage(activePage + (ev.key === keys.ARROW_RIGHT ? 1 : -1));
       }
     },
-    [activePage, setPage]
+    [activePage, onClose, setPage]
   );
 
   const addColumn = useCallback(
@@ -231,6 +237,7 @@ export function UnifiedDocViewerFlyout({
         defaultMessage: 'Document',
       });
   const currentFlyoutTitle = flyoutTitle ?? defaultFlyoutTitle;
+  const { a11yProps, screenReaderDescription } = useFlyoutA11y({ isXlScreen });
 
   return (
     <EuiPortal>
@@ -250,7 +257,9 @@ export function UnifiedDocViewerFlyout({
           maxWidth: `${isXlScreen ? `calc(100vw - ${DEFAULT_WIDTH}px)` : '90vw'} !important`,
         }}
         paddingSize="m"
+        {...a11yProps}
       >
+        {screenReaderDescription}
         <EuiFlyoutHeader hasBorder>
           <EuiFlexGroup
             direction="row"
diff --git a/src/plugins/unified_doc_viewer/public/components/doc_viewer_flyout/use_flyout_a11y.tsx b/src/plugins/unified_doc_viewer/public/components/doc_viewer_flyout/use_flyout_a11y.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..84c47cc4bd0639
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/unified_doc_viewer/public/components/doc_viewer_flyout/use_flyout_a11y.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the "Elastic License
+ * 2.0", the "GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 only", and the "Server Side
+ * Public License v 1"; you may not use this file except in compliance with, at
+ * your election, the "Elastic License 2.0", the "GNU Affero General Public
+ * License v3.0 only", or the "Server Side Public License, v 1".
+ */
+
+import { EuiScreenReaderOnly, useGeneratedHtmlId } from '@elastic/eui';
+import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
+import React, { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+import useUnmount from 'react-use/lib/useUnmount';
+
+export const useFlyoutA11y = ({ isXlScreen }: { isXlScreen: boolean }) => {
+  const descriptionId = useGeneratedHtmlId();
+  const [triggerEl] = useState(document.activeElement);
+  const [flyoutEl, setFlyoutEl] = useState<HTMLElement>();
+
+  // Auto-focus push flyout on open or when switching to XL screen
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (isXlScreen && flyoutEl && document.contains(flyoutEl)) {
+      // Wait a tick before focusing or focus will be stolen by the trigger element when
+      // switching from an overlay flyout to a push flyout (due to EUI focus lock)
+      setTimeout(() => flyoutEl.focus());
+    }
+  }, [flyoutEl, isXlScreen]);
+
+  // Return focus to the trigger element when the flyout is closed
+  useUnmount(() => {
+    if (triggerEl instanceof HTMLElement && document.contains(triggerEl)) {
+      triggerEl.focus();
+    }
+  });
+
+  return {
+    a11yProps: {
+      ref: setFlyoutEl,
+      role: isXlScreen ? 'dialog' : undefined,
+      tabindex: isXlScreen ? 0 : undefined,
+      'aria-describedby': isXlScreen ? descriptionId : undefined,
+      'data-no-focus-lock': isXlScreen || undefined,
+    },
+    screenReaderDescription: isXlScreen && (
+      <EuiScreenReaderOnly>
+        <p id={descriptionId} data-test-subj="unifiedDocViewerScreenReaderDescription">
+          {i18n.translate('unifiedDocViewer.flyout.screenReaderDescription', {
+            defaultMessage: 'You are in a non-modal dialog. To close the dialog, press Escape.',
+          })}
+        </p>
+      </EuiScreenReaderOnly>
+    ),
+  };
+};
diff --git a/test/functional/apps/discover/group2_data_grid1/_data_grid_doc_table.ts b/test/functional/apps/discover/group2_data_grid1/_data_grid_doc_table.ts
index c2ae5c30bf86f5..dc3cfb8c23bf96 100644
--- a/test/functional/apps/discover/group2_data_grid1/_data_grid_doc_table.ts
+++ b/test/functional/apps/discover/group2_data_grid1/_data_grid_doc_table.ts
@@ -179,9 +179,9 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       it('should allow paginating docs in the flyout by clicking in the doc table', async function () {
         await retry.try(async function () {
           await dataGrid.clickRowToggle({ rowIndex: rowToInspect - 1 });
-          await testSubjects.exists(`docViewerFlyoutNavigationPage0`);
+          await testSubjects.existOrFail('docViewerFlyoutNavigationPage-0');
           await dataGrid.clickRowToggle({ rowIndex: rowToInspect });
-          await testSubjects.exists(`docViewerFlyoutNavigationPage1`);
+          await testSubjects.existOrFail('docViewerFlyoutNavigationPage-1');
           await dataGrid.closeFlyout();
         });
       });
diff --git a/test/functional/apps/discover/group3/_doc_viewer.ts b/test/functional/apps/discover/group3/_doc_viewer.ts
index bc71c822890710..542cdab9543ec8 100644
--- a/test/functional/apps/discover/group3/_doc_viewer.ts
+++ b/test/functional/apps/discover/group3/_doc_viewer.ts
@@ -431,5 +431,214 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
         expect(await dataGrid.isFieldPinnedInFlyout('@message')).to.be(false);
       });
     });
+
+    describe('flyout', () => {
+      let originalScreenSize = { width: 0, height: 0 };
+
+      const reduceScreenWidth = async () => {
+        await browser.setWindowSize(800, originalScreenSize.height);
+      };
+
+      const restoreScreenWidth = async () => {
+        await browser.setWindowSize(originalScreenSize.width, originalScreenSize.height);
+      };
+
+      before(async () => {
+        originalScreenSize = await browser.getWindowSize();
+      });
+
+      beforeEach(async () => {
+        // open the flyout once initially to ensure table is the default tab
+        await dataGrid.clickRowToggle();
+        await discover.isShowingDocViewer();
+        await dataGrid.closeFlyout();
+      });
+
+      afterEach(async () => {
+        await restoreScreenWidth();
+      });
+
+      describe('keyboard navigation', () => {
+        it('should navigate between documents with arrow keys', async () => {
+          await dataGrid.clickRowToggle({ defaultTabId: false });
+          await discover.isShowingDocViewer();
+          await testSubjects.existOrFail(`docViewerFlyoutNavigationPage-0`);
+          await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ARROW_RIGHT);
+          await testSubjects.existOrFail(`docViewerFlyoutNavigationPage-1`);
+          await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ARROW_RIGHT);
+          await testSubjects.existOrFail(`docViewerFlyoutNavigationPage-2`);
+          await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ARROW_LEFT);
+          await testSubjects.existOrFail(`docViewerFlyoutNavigationPage-1`);
+          await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ARROW_LEFT);
+          await testSubjects.existOrFail(`docViewerFlyoutNavigationPage-0`);
+        });
+
+        it('should not navigate between documents with arrow keys when the search input is focused', async () => {
+          await dataGrid.clickRowToggle({ defaultTabId: false });
+          await discover.isShowingDocViewer();
+          await testSubjects.existOrFail(`docViewerFlyoutNavigationPage-0`);
+          await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ARROW_RIGHT);
+          await testSubjects.existOrFail(`docViewerFlyoutNavigationPage-1`);
+          await testSubjects.click('unifiedDocViewerFieldsSearchInput');
+          await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ARROW_RIGHT);
+          await testSubjects.existOrFail(`docViewerFlyoutNavigationPage-1`);
+          await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.TAB);
+          await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ARROW_RIGHT);
+          await testSubjects.existOrFail(`docViewerFlyoutNavigationPage-2`);
+        });
+
+        it('should not navigate between documents with arrow keys when the data grid is focused', async () => {
+          await dataGrid.clickRowToggle({ defaultTabId: false });
+          await discover.isShowingDocViewer();
+          await testSubjects.existOrFail(`docViewerFlyoutNavigationPage-0`);
+          await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ARROW_RIGHT);
+          await testSubjects.existOrFail(`docViewerFlyoutNavigationPage-1`);
+          await testSubjects.click('dataGridHeaderCell-name');
+          await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ARROW_RIGHT);
+          await testSubjects.existOrFail(`docViewerFlyoutNavigationPage-1`);
+          await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.TAB);
+          await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ARROW_RIGHT);
+          await testSubjects.existOrFail(`docViewerFlyoutNavigationPage-2`);
+        });
+
+        it('should close the flyout with the escape key', async () => {
+          await dataGrid.clickRowToggle({ defaultTabId: false });
+          expect(await discover.isShowingDocViewer()).to.be(true);
+          await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ESCAPE);
+          expect(await discover.isShowingDocViewer()).to.be(false);
+        });
+
+        it('should close the flyout with the escape key when the search input is focused', async () => {
+          await dataGrid.clickRowToggle({ defaultTabId: false });
+          expect(await discover.isShowingDocViewer()).to.be(true);
+          await testSubjects.click('unifiedDocViewerFieldsSearchInput');
+          await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ESCAPE);
+          expect(await discover.isShowingDocViewer()).to.be(false);
+        });
+
+        it('should not close the flyout with the escape key when the data grid is focused', async () => {
+          await dataGrid.clickRowToggle({ defaultTabId: false });
+          expect(await discover.isShowingDocViewer()).to.be(true);
+          await testSubjects.click('dataGridHeaderCell-name');
+          await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ESCAPE);
+          expect(await discover.isShowingDocViewer()).to.be(true);
+          await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.TAB);
+          await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ESCAPE);
+          expect(await discover.isShowingDocViewer()).to.be(false);
+        });
+      });
+
+      describe('accessibility', () => {
+        it('should focus the flyout on open, and retain focus when resizing between push and overlay flyouts', async () => {
+          // push -> overlay -> push
+          await dataGrid.clickRowToggle({ defaultTabId: false });
+          await discover.isShowingDocViewer();
+          let activeElement = await find.activeElement();
+          expect(await activeElement.getAttribute('data-test-subj')).to.be('docViewerFlyout');
+          await reduceScreenWidth();
+          activeElement = await find.activeElement();
+          expect(await activeElement.getAttribute('data-test-subj')).to.be('docViewerFlyout');
+          await restoreScreenWidth();
+          activeElement = await find.activeElement();
+          expect(await activeElement.getAttribute('data-test-subj')).to.be('docViewerFlyout');
+          // overlay -> push -> overlay
+          await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ESCAPE);
+          await reduceScreenWidth();
+          await dataGrid.clickRowToggle({ defaultTabId: false });
+          await discover.isShowingDocViewer();
+          activeElement = await find.activeElement();
+          expect(await activeElement.getAttribute('data-test-subj')).to.be('docViewerFlyout');
+          await restoreScreenWidth();
+          activeElement = await find.activeElement();
+          expect(await activeElement.getAttribute('data-test-subj')).to.be('docViewerFlyout');
+          await reduceScreenWidth();
+          activeElement = await find.activeElement();
+          expect(await activeElement.getAttribute('data-test-subj')).to.be('docViewerFlyout');
+        });
+
+        it('should return focus to the trigger element when the flyout is closed', async () => {
+          // push
+          await dataGrid.clickRowToggle({ defaultTabId: false });
+          await discover.isShowingDocViewer();
+          await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ESCAPE);
+          let activeElement = await find.activeElement();
+          expect(await activeElement.getAttribute('data-test-subj')).to.be(
+            'docTableExpandToggleColumn'
+          );
+          // push -> overlay
+          await dataGrid.clickRowToggle({ defaultTabId: false });
+          await discover.isShowingDocViewer();
+          await reduceScreenWidth();
+          await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ESCAPE);
+          activeElement = await find.activeElement();
+          expect(await activeElement.getAttribute('data-test-subj')).to.be(
+            'docTableExpandToggleColumn'
+          );
+          // overlay
+          await dataGrid.clickRowToggle({ defaultTabId: false });
+          await discover.isShowingDocViewer();
+          await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ESCAPE);
+          activeElement = await find.activeElement();
+          expect(await activeElement.getAttribute('data-test-subj')).to.be(
+            'docTableExpandToggleColumn'
+          );
+          // overlay -> push
+          await dataGrid.clickRowToggle({ defaultTabId: false });
+          await discover.isShowingDocViewer();
+          await restoreScreenWidth();
+          await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ESCAPE);
+          activeElement = await find.activeElement();
+          expect(await activeElement.getAttribute('data-test-subj')).to.be(
+            'docTableExpandToggleColumn'
+          );
+        });
+
+        it('should show custom screen reader description push flyout is active', async () => {
+          await dataGrid.clickRowToggle({ defaultTabId: false });
+          await discover.isShowingDocViewer();
+          await testSubjects.existOrFail('unifiedDocViewerScreenReaderDescription', {
+            allowHidden: true,
+          });
+        });
+
+        it('should not show custom screen reader description when overlay flyout active', async () => {
+          await dataGrid.clickRowToggle({ defaultTabId: false });
+          await discover.isShowingDocViewer();
+          await reduceScreenWidth();
+          expect(
+            await testSubjects.exists('unifiedDocViewerScreenReaderDescription', {
+              allowHidden: true,
+            })
+          ).to.be(false);
+        });
+
+        it('should use expected a11y attributes', async () => {
+          // push flyout
+          await dataGrid.clickRowToggle({ defaultTabId: false });
+          await discover.isShowingDocViewer();
+          let role = await testSubjects.getAttribute('docViewerFlyout', 'role');
+          let tabindex = await testSubjects.getAttribute('docViewerFlyout', 'tabindex');
+          let describedBy = await testSubjects.getAttribute('docViewerFlyout', 'aria-describedby');
+          let noFocusLock = await testSubjects.getAttribute(
+            'docViewerFlyout',
+            'data-no-focus-lock'
+          );
+          expect(role).to.be('dialog');
+          expect(tabindex).to.be('0');
+          expect(await find.existsByCssSelector(`#${describedBy}`)).to.be(true);
+          expect(noFocusLock).to.be('true');
+          // overlay flyout
+          await reduceScreenWidth();
+          role = await testSubjects.getAttribute('docViewerFlyout', 'role');
+          tabindex = await testSubjects.getAttribute('docViewerFlyout', 'tabindex');
+          describedBy = await testSubjects.getAttribute('docViewerFlyout', 'aria-describedby');
+          noFocusLock = await testSubjects.getAttribute('docViewerFlyout', 'data-no-focus-lock');
+          expect(role).to.be('dialog');
+          expect(tabindex).to.be('0');
+          expect(await find.existsByCssSelector(`#${describedBy}`)).to.be(true);
+          expect(noFocusLock).to.be(null);
+        });
+      });
+    });
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/functional/services/data_grid.ts b/test/functional/services/data_grid.ts
index efdaeb49933f21..903e38427181b6 100644
--- a/test/functional/services/data_grid.ts
+++ b/test/functional/services/data_grid.ts
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ export class DataGridService extends FtrService {
   }
 
   public async clickRowToggle(
-    { defaultTabId, ...options }: SelectOptions & { defaultTabId?: string } = {
+    { defaultTabId, ...options }: SelectOptions & { defaultTabId?: string | false } = {
       isAnchorRow: false,
       rowIndex: 0,
     }
@@ -389,7 +389,9 @@ export class DataGridService extends FtrService {
       throw new Error('Unable to find row toggle element');
     }
 
-    await this.clickDocViewerTab(defaultTabId ?? 'doc_view_table');
+    if (defaultTabId !== false) {
+      await this.clickDocViewerTab(defaultTabId ?? 'doc_view_table');
+    }
   }
 
   public async isShowingDocViewer() {