Shocking video shows the plane’s doors open and panicked passengers clutching their seats as an Asiana Air plane prepares to land in South Korea.
Based on CNNA man described as just 33 years old was in the emergency seat when it was believed he somehow managed to open the plane’s door on Friday.
RELATED: Man, 33, arrested after trying to open plane door mid-flight and flight attendants on strike 3x (Video)
Police arrested the man after he allegedly opened the door of the plane before landing in South Korea
Asiana Airlines said there were a total of 200 people on the flight, including 194 passengers. Meanwhile, 12 people suffered minor injuries due to shortness of breath. Nine of them were sent to a hospital in Daegu, South Korea.
Passengers open the plane’s emergency exit while flying in Korea; 12 people slightly injured: https://t.co/E2akABTTtL pic.twitter.com/UeQGuguMsA
– WAFB (@WAFB) May 26, 2023
Police arrested the man in question upon landing, according to local police. The unnamed suspect eventually confessed to opening the door. However, he did not give a motive why.
Han Jae Min, a spokesman for the airline, shared a statement with NBC News.
“The male passenger sitting next to the open emergency exit said he was twisting the handle and he was able to open the door. He is currently being questioned by police and we understand that he told police that he opened the door.”
At the time of the incident, the plane was about 700 feet above the ground. In addition, the flight was two to three minutes away from landing in Seoul.
9 passengers hospitalized after a man opened the plane door mid-flight in South Korea#Are notpic.twitter.com/JikpW4nzUQ
– ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) May 26, 2023
Aviation experts are confused about how the man was able to open the plane door mid-flight
Aviation experts are confused about how the man managed to open the door mid-flight. Geoffrey Thomas of Airline Ratings described the incident as “very strange,” according to CNN.
“Technically, it is not possible to open those doors in flight. It doesn’t seem logical that the door could be opened in the first place and then reverse the airflow is technically not possible, but one way or another it happened.”
No abnormalities were found on the aircraft after a maintenance check by the safety supervisor.
Asiana Airlines explains the phenomenon, the video shows the shocking consequences
However, Asiana Airlines explained to CNN that the door can be opened when the altitude is low and about to land, as was the case on Friday.
“The plane is set up automatically to adjust the pressure in the cabin according to the altitude of the plane. When the plane is high, the door cannot be opened, but when the plane is low and close to landing, the door can be opened.
The video shows winds blowing through the plane’s cabin as passengers hug their armrests. However, company officials confirmed to CNN that the plane eventually landed safely.
Scary Scenario: A passenger opened the plane’s emergency exit during a flight in South Korea. Twelve people were taken to hospital with minor injuries and ear pain. STORY: https://t.co/aS75FRT4gT pic.twitter.com/KzyI0R3jf1
– WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) May 26, 2023
The man in question faces up to 10 years in prison
In a statement on Friday, South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport confirmed that the police and the ministry were investigating an individual in connection with an aviation law violation.
Violating the Aviation Security Act carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, according to CNN.
