Man arrested for opening emergency exit during flight.

Man Who Opened Emergency Exit Mid-Flight Has Been Placed Under Arrest

A man in South Korea has been formally arrested and faces up to 10 years in prison for violating aviation security laws after he opened an emergency exit door during a flight. The incident occurred on an Asiana Airlines Airbus A321-200, causing air to blast inside the cabin and injuring 12 people. Passengers reported severe ear pain and saw others screaming and crying. A video shared on social media shows passengers’ hair being whipped by air blowing into the cabin.

The 33-year-old man told investigators that he felt suffocated and tried to get off the plane quickly. Normally, emergency exit doors cannot be opened mid-flight due to the difference in air pressure inside and outside of the aircraft. However, during Friday’s incident, the man succeeded in opening the door likely because the plane was flying at a low altitude while preparing to land and there wasn’t much difference in pressure, according to Asiana Airlines officials.

Investigation and Arrest

The Transport Ministry said the plane was at 700 feet when the man pulled the door open. The plane was preparing to land in Daegu after an hour-long flight from the southern island of Jeju with 200 people on board. They included teenage athletes on their way to a track and field competition, according to Asiana Airlines.

On Sunday, a district court in Daegu approved a warrant to formally arrest the man. Police earlier sought the arrest warrant, citing the graveness of the crime and a possibility the man may flee, according to Daegu police. Daegu police said they have up to 20 days to investigate the man before determining whether to send him to prosecutors for a possible indictment.

If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for breaching the aviation security law that bars passengers from handling entry doors, emergency exit doors and other equipment on board, according to the Transport Ministry.

Motivation Behind the Incident

The man, surnamed Lee, told police that he was under stress after losing his job recently and that he wanted to get out of the plane soon because he was feeling suffocated just before landing. “I wanted to get off the plane soon,” the man, whose face was covered by a black hoodie, a cap and a mask, told reporters at the court ahead of its review of his arrest warrant. “I’m really sorry to kids,” he said, in a likely reference to the teenage athletes.

The people who were taken to hospitals were mainly treated for minor problems, such as breathing difficulties. Asiana Airlines said in a statement that starting on Sunday, it stopped the sale of emergency exit seats on its 174-seat A321-200 planes and the 195-seat A321-200s as a safety precaution. Lee was seated near the emergency exit, airline officials said.

The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.