In the event you ever wondered what would happen if someone opened the emergency door during a flight, 194 terrified passengers learned the hard way when a man opened the door of an Asiana Airlines plane minutes before it was due to land in the city of Daegu, South Korea.
The door was opened right before landing with the plane still about 650ft above the ground, according to Yonhap News Agency. The plane managed to land without incident and a male passenger in his 30s was detained by authorities for questioning — it’s not clear why he opened the door.
At least nine passengers were taken to the hospital after experiencing breathing difficulties, a possible symptom of panic. Video taken from inside the plane shows wind gushing into the aircraft, with passengers seated in the same row as the door taking the brunt of the impact.
An Asiana Airlines plane landed safely in South Korea after a passenger opened its door mid-flight. Video footage filmed by a person on the flight showed wind rushing in from the open door https://t.co/eTtVOhMjtn pic.twitter.com/KRNSU2WF18
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 26, 2023
The South Korean news agency reported that there were 48 elementary- and middle-school athletes among the passengers, the group was scheduled to compete in a national sports event in the nearby city of Ulsan.
“Children quivered and cried in panic,” the mother of one of the athletes said, according to Yonhap. “Those sitting near the exit must have been shocked the most.”
Here’s another angle of the wind blasting the cabin that captured the distress endured by the passengers sitting closest to the door:
More footage here from the terrifying Asiana Airlines flight with the emergency exit wide open for some 3 mins before landing.pic.twitter.com/P9r6uh4ANS
— Raphael Rashid (@koryodynasty) May 26, 2023
There was plenty of confusion about how the door could have opened, given the cabin pressure. Again, the plane was nearly on the ground when the frightening incident took place.
According to Articles 23 and 46 of South Korea’s Aviation Security Act, a passenger who handles the emergency exit in a way that compromises the airplane’s security and flight can face up to ten years in prison.
— Raphael Rashid (@koryodynasty) May 26, 2023
Here’s a quick sampling of some of the responses to the story, as seen on Twitter:
It is not locked. That would defeat the purpose.
— Raz (@tsetseffly) May 26, 2023
How?? I thought the air pressure from outside pretty much sealed these things shut
— James Framed (@JMZ_UK) May 26, 2023
Well at least we all know what would happen now
— Wor Power Raider (@FireballRaider) May 26, 2023
I expected people to float about in the plane…those James Bond films lied
— Allegra.eth (@AllegraFx1) May 26, 2023
The beat down I would have administered the door opener
— Bagheera1983 (@bagheerava1983) May 26, 2023
welcome to my new phobia for exit seats
— Buğra Karataş (@karatasbugra) May 26, 2023
Smoke’em if ya got’em I guess. If at anytime you may need one that could’ve been your last one. pic.twitter.com/ziaUbmgogX
— X MARX THE BOX (@xmarxthebox) May 26, 2023
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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