A video captured a terrifying moment from an Asiana Airlines flight when an emergency door was opened.
An unidentified passenger reportedly managed to partially open an emergency exit door while the aircraft was in flight to Daegu Airport in South Korea on Friday.
Other passengers attempted and were unsuccessful in their attempt to stop him.
Watch the moment below:
This footage shows the terrifying moment inside a cabin after a passenger opened an emergency exit door on a South Korean plane shortly before it landed.
— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 26, 2023
Read more: https://t.co/XwgkBQwDTp pic.twitter.com/NWUg8ZrAuG
The incident reportedly occurred while the plane was making its descent at about 700 feet.
According to Fox News, “The Asiana Airlines Airbus A321 aircraft was immediately filled with a whirlwind that disoriented passengers.”
The outlet added 12 passengers were taken to a hospital due to the effect of the wind.
Several passengers reported breathing problems and ear pain caused by the compression of the cabin.
The man accused of opening the door has not been identified as of Friday morning, but he was arrested.
CNN reports local police said the man confessed to opening the door. However, he did not share his motivation for doing so.
Opening the emergency door would violate the Aviation Security Act, CNN reported, which carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said it was looking into the aircraft’s maintenance records.
Aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas called the incident “very bizarre.”
“Technically, it’s not possible to open those doors in flight,” he told CNN, adding, “It seems implausible that the door could be opened in the first place and then against the airstream technically impossible, but somehow or another it has happened.”
However, Asiana Airlines told the network, “The airplane is automatically set to adjust the pressure of the cabin according to the altitude of the aircraft. When the aircraft is high up in the air, it is impossible to open the door but when the altitude is low and close to landing, the door can be opened.”
