A man who opened an emergency exit door during a flight in South Korea has been formally arrested and may face up to 10 years in prison.
The incident occurred on Friday when the man opened the door of the Asiana Airlines Airbus A321-200, resulting in a rush of air into the cabin and causing minor injuries to twelve passengers.
Witnesses described severe ear pain and observed others screaming and crying during the incident. Social media videos circulated showing passengers’ hair being whipped by the sudden blast of air.
Normally, emergency exit doors cannot be opened during a flight due to the difference in air pressure inside and outside the aircraft. However, in this case, the man was able to open the door likely because the plane was flying at a low altitude while preparing to land, resulting in minimal pressure differential, according to Asiana Airlines officials.
The plane was at 700 feet when the man pulled the door open while en route from the southern island of Jeju to Daegu, with 200 people on board.
On Sunday, a district court in Daegu granted a warrant for the man’s formal arrest. Police had requested the warrant, citing the gravity of the offense and the possibility of the man fleeing the country.
During preliminary questioning, the man, identified as Lee, reportedly told police that he had recently lost his job and was under stress, leading him to feel suffocated and eager to exit the plane before landing.
“I wanted to get off the plane soon,” said the 33-year-old man, who covered his face with a black hoodie, cap, and mask, while speaking to reporters at the court. “I’m really sorry to the kids,” he added, likely referring to the teenage athletes on board.
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Daegu police now have up to 20 days to conduct further investigations before determining whether to send the man to prosecutors for a possible indictment. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for breaching the aviation security law, which prohibits passengers from tampering with entry doors, emergency exit doors, and other onboard equipment.
As a safety precaution, Asiana Airlines has announced the suspension of the sale of emergency exit seats on its A321-200 planes.
