Someone probably really expected this flight to end already: A passenger on a South Korean flight opened the plane's emergency door minutes before landing - causing chaos and panic that gripped the 194 passengers, who experienced strong winds that penetrated the interior of the plane, as can be seen in a video documenting the incident.
On Friday, South Korean airline Asiana Airlines' Airbus A321 made a domestic flight from Jeju Island to the city of Daegu. Before landing, just 215 meters from the ground, one of the passengers pulled the opening lever of one of the emergency doors. Some of the passengers tried to prevent the man from carrying out his scheme, but he managed to cause the door, which remained open, to partially open. From that moment, huge air currents penetrated the plane, while passengers gripped the armrests of their seats forcefully.
Watch the incident
The main casualties: the passengers sitting at the door
The New York Post reports that among the 194 passengers on board were a number of teenager athletes on their way to competition, and that at least 12 passengers suffered minor injuries in the incident. The plane itself landed safely at the airport, and some of the passengers who experienced breathing difficulties were taken to a local hospital. "It was chaos and people sitting close to the door fainted one by one, while the flight attendants tried to find doctors among the passengers who could help with the situation," said one passenger. "I thought the plane crashed, I thought I would end my life like this," another passenger added.
The mother of one of the boys on the plane told local media that "children were crying and shaking with fear. Those who were most shocked were those who sat by the door that opened."
At least 12 passengers sustained minor injuries in the incident. The door of the plane is open on the Asiana flight (Photo: screenshot, Twitter)
Tried to jump out of the plane himself
The suspect, whose name was not disclosed, is in his 30s and was arrested immediately after landing. He confessed to his actions but did not explain why he did it. Other witnesses said the passenger tried to jump out of the plane while still in the air. "It's hard to have a logical dialogue with him," an official said. "But we will investigate his motive and he will accept his punishment."
Aviation expert Jeffrey Thomas described the incident as "very strange". According to him, it is technically impossible to open these doors on a flight. He also estimated that the winds that penetrated the plane were blowing at about 270 kilometers per hour. "It seems unlikely that you could open the door in the first place under these conditions, but somehow it happened," he says. South Korean transport officials said an investigation would be conducted to determine whether safety procedures had been breached for maintenance.
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