SEOUL, May 27 (Portal) – A passenger on an Asiana Airlines flight (020560.KS) told police he opened a door on the plane minutes before landing in Daegu, South Korea, on Friday because he was “unwell felt,” Yonhap News Agency reports.
The man, in his thirties, was arrested upon landing. He told police he opened the door because he “wanted to get off the plane quickly,” Yonhap said Saturday, citing Daegu Dongbu Police Station.
He also told police he was stressed after recently losing his job.
Portal could not immediately reach the police at the station.
The man opened the door when the plane was about 700 feet (213 meters) off the ground, causing panic on board.
[1/2] Asiana Airlines Airbus A321 plane, with a passenger opening a door just before landing, is pictured at an airport in Daegu, South Korea, May 26, 2023. Yonhap via Portal
Nine passengers were taken to hospital with breathing problems. They were all released after about two hours, a fire official said.
Police on Saturday applied for an arrest warrant for the arrested man for violating the Aviation Security Act and other offences, Yonhap said. The officials gave the man’s last name as Lee, but not his full name as usual.
A televised video reportedly taken by a passenger showed the moments before landing, with the door open and the wind blowing in, while passengers were seated nearby.
Jin Seong-hyun, a former Korean Air cabin security officer, said that to his knowledge the incident was unprecedented, but passengers opened emergency exits without authorization while planes were grounded.
An official with South Korea’s Transportation Ministry said Friday that it’s possible to open emergency exits at or near the ground because the pressure inside and outside the cabin is similar.
Reporting by Joyce Lee and Ju-min Park. Editing by Frances Kerry
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