On Friday afternoon, a passenger aboard an Asiana Airlines flight in South Korea opened a plane door minutes before landing, causing a terrifying scene of wind rushing through the cabin. The incident occurred on a flight from Jeju island to Daegu city, which is 150 miles south of Seoul. An airline official noted the door was opened when the plane was roughly 700 feet above the ground, approximately 2-3 minutes from touchdown.
The person suspected of opening the door, a man in his 30s, was arrested by local police. Though he confessed to opening the door, he did not reveal why. Violation of aviation law, including passengers operating doors, exits, or equipment inside the aircraft, can result in up to 10 years in prison, according to South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport.
Despite the mid-air incident, the plane landed safely, with 200 people aboard including 194 passengers. Twelve people suffered minor injuries due to hyperventilation, with nine needing hospital treatment. Aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas described the incident as “very bizarre,” as it is technically not possible to open such doors in flight. Asiana Airlines stated that while at high altitudes the door cannot be opened, it is possible when the aircraft is low and close to landing.
