In 2023, two alarming incidents occurred involving the emergency exits of aircraft. The first involved a man who opened the emergency exit door beside him, citing feelings of suffocation during the flight. The second incident saw a teenager attempt to do the same, before cabin crew intervened and restrained him, preventing him from compromising the safety of everyone on board.
Both incidents occurred overseas, but how would you feel if you were to experience such a terrifying ordeal on a local airline? Over the weekend, it was reported that a man attempted to open the emergency exit doors on an AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney. Here’s what happened:
A 46-year-old Jordanian man allegedly attempted to open the emergency exit doors of an AirAsia aircraft twice during the D7220 flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to Sydney, Australia. The man, reportedly en route for a business trip, got up from his seat four hours into the flight and attempted to open the emergency exit at the back of the aircraft, 30,000 feet (9,144 metres) in the air. Thankfully, the cabin crew managed to stop him and escorted him to a seat in the middle of the plane.
However, he then attempted to open a second emergency exit door near him before a cabin crew member intervened. During the confrontation, the man allegedly assaulted the flight attendant, prompting other passengers to step in and restrain him. According to the Australian Federal Police, the man was subsequently charged with assault and endangering the safety of the Sydney-bound aircraft.
“The AFP will not hesitate to take action against individuals who engage in criminal behaviour on aircraft, particularly where such behaviour poses a risk to the safety of passengers, crew, or the flight itself,” a statement reads. As for what prompted the culprit to behave the way he did, it was reported that he was allegedly under the influence of medication and alcohol that he had taken during the flight.
An AirAsia spokesperson responded to the incident by stating that their cabin crew took all the necessary steps to ensure the safety of everyone onboard the flight. The case is still ongoing and will be taken to court later this week. If found guilty, the man could be sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Watch the full report below:
Sources: YouTube, Facebook, TheGuardian
