Passenger opens plane door mid-flight: 'A terrifying event'

Cellphone video captured the frightening moments after a passenger apparently opened an emergency exit door during a flight over South Korea. The plane landed safely, and that passenger is in police custody. Robert Sumwalt, a CBS News transportation and safety consultant and the former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, joins us with more.

#news #airtravel #plane

[macmcleod]

Well, the man should go to prison for 5 years. Maybe 10 years.

And they need a way to prevent other crazy people from repeating the action.

[joekerry]

Ah yes, the Airbus A-321. I used to be a mechanic on these. Notice the door parked forward of the opening in the outside pictures going around. All Airbus 318, 319, 320, 321 airliners have a nitrogen blow open assist bottle that can launch these doors out and then forward open. The passenger likely could not have have opened this door against the windstream with his own strength. This where a "safety" device comes in. More on that:

To clarify, the door has an OPEN lever and a ARM lever. The nitrogen blow open feature is ordinarily disabled by pulling the ARM lever first, then pushing the OPEN lever. It is doubtful the passenger knew about the ARM lever.

In a less publicized event about twenty years ago a flight attendant forgot to pull the the ARM lever before opening the door. The airplane was parked at the time. Rather than let go of the opening handle she held onto it and was flung outside. She landed on the ramp head first and died of her injuries.

Perhaps it is time for Airbus to review this dangerous safety device.

[towritemichelle]

I'm surprised the passengers didn't rip him a new one upon landing

[Sbannmarie]

That guy they're interviewing wayyy too happy and smiling. Was he waiting to get off the air to bust out laughing? Good God.

[JetseTurner]

She didn't like when he pushed back on her danger narrative. Lol

[tj]

Im surprised that guy didn't fall out of the plane

[novaboy]

Look, I know how impatient I get when it is less than 10 min till landing, but you gotta wait man. Opening that door will just make your landing more deadly XD

[bobbyshmurda]

It's always so bad quality you can barely tell what's going on

[hobonotboho]

Lesson - It's safe to open plane doors.

[livesyou]

CBS: “It was dangerous.”
Pilot: I was a commercial airline pilot for 24 years and flew that exact plane. It wasn’t☠️

[meichin]

OMG... i would have nightmares since i have a fear of flying

[ialphasoul]

The passenger just wanted a wider view and some fresh air 🤣

[zebonautsmith]

easy for him to be cool calm and jokey; whereas the passengers were likely shitting themselves.

[glennwilson]

I thought the inflatable exit ramps are usually "armed" until deactivated by cabin crew at the gate - seems like a miracle they didn't deploy & potentially violently affect the planes aerodynamics.

[AmberLawliet]

Sounds like bro let the intrusive thoughts take over lol

[karlosdelacruz]

Someone's obviously paying this man to try and make sure people don't freak out about flying. There was nothing even remotely "OK' about that situation, but he all smiles.

[Wooster]

he's missing the point. There's got to be a way for the crew to stop any passenger that's endangering others, even if there isn't a crew member physically big or strong enough to do so. Maybe tasers or airguns with tranquilizer darts that a few staff would be trained to use.

[danielhall]

The media try hype it up and this guys shuts it down.

[ballecerdigital]

The smile is a requirement for tje interview 😂😂😂

[jakeykun]

Them: It’s just a prank bro!
The prank: