Passenger arrested on Asiana Airlines for opening plane door during flight to South Korea
A man was taken into custody after he opened the door of an Asiana Airlines flight while it was landing in South Korea. The incident occurred at Daegu International Airport, and fortunately, all 194 passengers on board survived the flight without any major injuries. However, some passengers experienced fainting and difficulty breathing, requiring medical attention at the hospital, as reported by local media.
According to the Yonhap news agency, the man, who is in his 30s, claimed that he felt suffocated and wanted to disembark quickly. During questioning by the police, he stated that the stress from losing his job had contributed to his actions.
The flight, identified as OZ8124, was an Airbus A321-200 jet that departed from Jeju Island at approximately 11:45 local time (03:45 GMT) on Friday. About an hour later, as the plane was in the process of landing, the male passenger opened the emergency door while the aircraft was still 250 meters above the ground.
A video recorded by a passenger and shared on social media showed the open door on the left side of the plane and the strong winds affecting the seated passengers. Witnesses recounted that the flight attendants were unable to prevent the man from opening the door due to the imminent landing. Furthermore, he had even attempted to jump out of the plane after opening the door.
Passengers described the chaos and panic that ensued. One 44-year-old passenger told Yonhap, "There was widespread confusion, with people near the door fainting one after another, and flight attendants urgently calling for doctors through the intercom." Another passenger expressed his fear, believing that the plane was going to explode and that he would perish in the incident.
The Asiana Airlines flight landed at Daegu International Airport with the door still open. Among the passengers were several school-age children who were traveling to a sporting event over the weekend. The mother of one of the students recounted their distress, stating that the children were trembling, crying, and terrified.
