By
The Associated Press
At first it seems like a typical case of bad behavior on board airplanes.
Mexico City International Airport acknowledged in a statement Friday that a man had opened an emergency exit and walked along the wing of a plane that was parked and waiting to take off Thursday.
The airport said the man
was handed over to police
.
But dozens of fellow travelers signed a statement saying the airline had made them wait four hours without ventilation or water while the flight was delayed.
According to photos of the statement posted online, travelers said he acted "to protect everyone, with everyone's support."
An AeroMéxico airline plane, at the Benito Juárez airport, in Mexico City, on May 12, 2022. Associated Press
The airport said in a statement that "yesterday a passenger on a flight to Guatemala opened an emergency door on an airplane while stopped in a remote position, stood on a wing and then re-entered the cabin, without affecting the aircraft or anyone else."
"In accordance with international security standards, this person was handed over to the authorities," the document indicated.
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At least 77 passengers on board the AeroMéxico flight bound for Guatemala signed
a handwritten statement on
notebook paper, whose photos were spread on social networks, in which they support the man's action.
"The delay and lack of air created conditions that endangered the health of the passengers. He saved our lives," they stated in the statement.
An incident report submitted to airport authorities largely confirmed that version.
"At around 11:37 am [local time], a Mexican airline reported the beginning of a disturbance due to discontent among passengers on flight AM672," the report stated.
"The flight was scheduled to take off at 8:45 a.m. [local time] on Thursday, but due to a maintenance alert on the aircraft, the captain had to return to the gate for required maintenance."
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"
The passengers were unhappy
and one of them opened the emergency door and went out to the wing," the report expanded.
"This event forced the plane to be changed."
Airport authorities did not identify the man and declined to comment on whether he remains in custody or faces charges.
Flight tracking sites confirmed that flight AM672 bound for Guatemala City was delayed by 4 hours and 56 minutes on Thursday.
A video apparently recorded on board the flight showed passengers
fanning themselves and asking a flight attendant for water
.
AeroMéxico did not immediately respond to an email request for comment.