Huge fallout after panicked passenger opens exit door midflight
Asiana Airlines has immediately stopped offering its emergency exit seats after a passenger opened a door during a flight over South Korea on May 26, sparking panic inside the plane.
Passengers will no longer be seated in emergency exit seats on its 174-seat A321-200 aircrafts and the 195-seat A321-200s, as a safety measure.
According to airline officials, the man, 33, who opened the door was seated near the emergency exit.
During preliminary questioning, the 33-year-old told investigators that he felt suffocated and tried to get off the plane quickly, police reported.
Twelve people suffered minor injuries as a result, with air blasting in the cabin and terrifying passengers.
Some testified they suffered severe ear pain and saw others screaming and crying.
A video shared on social media shows passengers’ hair being whipped by air blowing into the cabin.
The emergency exit doors usually cannot be opened mid-flight due to the difference in air pressure inside and outside the plane.
However, the 33-year-old managed to open the door likely because the plane was flying at a low altitude while preparing to land and there wasn’t much difference to pressure, Asiana Airlines officials report.
The Transport Ministry said the plane was at 213 metres when the man pulled the door open.
The aircraft, which was flying to the city of Daegu from the southern island of Jeju was carrying 200 passengers and landed safely.
Passengers onboard included teenage athletes on their way to a track and field competition, according to Asiana Airlines.
The 33-year-old told authorities that he had wanted to get out of the plane because he felt suffocated, Yonhap news agency reported, citing police.
Yonhap said the man told police he had suffered stress after losing his job recently.
A district court in Daegu has since approved a warrant to formally arrest him.
"I wanted to get off the plane soon," the man told reporters at the court ahead of his arrest warrant review.
"I'm really sorry to kids," he said, likely referencing the teenage athletes.
Daegu police said they have up to 20 days to investigate the man before determining whether to send him to prosecutors for a possible indictment.
If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for breaching the aviation security law that bans passengers from handling entry doors, emergency exit doors and other equipment on board, according to the Transport Ministry.
Those who were taken to hospitals were primarily treated for minor issues such as breathing difficulties.
Image credit: Twitter