By Charlie Herbert
Passengers were left terrified after a man managed to open the door of a plane mid-flight.
Video footage of the terrifying incident shows wind billowing into the Asiana Airlines aircraft as those onboard hold on for dear life.
The door opened after a passenger grabbed the emergency exit lever on the door whilst the plane was still 650ft above ground and preparing for its descent towards Daegu, South Korea.
Witnesses said that children were shaking and crying with fear, and some passengers were so scared that they had to be taken to hospital with breathing difficulties when the plane landed.
Police have detained a male passenger in his 30s for questioning on suspicion of attempting to force the door open while the plane was preparing for landing, Yonhap News reports.
It is not yet clear why he decided to open the door.
A 33-year-old passenger has been arrested after opening a plane door midair on a passenger flight. @GioBenitez reports. pic.twitter.com/Wh0RGA7KqC
— Good Morning America (@GMA) May 26, 2023
Some people on board tried to stop the man from opening the door but were unsuccessful, the Transport Ministry said.
“Police are questioning him jointly with the land and transport ministry over aviation safety laws violations,” the ministry said.
“Under these laws, a person who opens a plane door without authorisation is subject to a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.”
Among the 194 passengers were 48 elementary and middle-school athletes who were travelling to compete in a national sports event on Saturday in the nearby city of Ulsan.
