Passenger Tries to Open Airplane Door Mid-Flight

While traveling from one place to another might sound like an amazing opportunity, some people find the entire experience a bit too boring. However, there are also the others, who find flying on a plane quite overwhelming as well. At least this guy did. A passenger tried to open a plane door mid-flight after being told the plane had no service until landing.

The Incident of the Passenger Tried to Open the Door

During a three-hour flight over China, a passenger aboard a Fuzhou Airlines Boeing 737, described as likely mentally ill, attempted to open a plane door and behaved erratically. The cabin crew successfully subdued him with the assistance of onboard security officers just before the scheduled landing in Kunming City. The passenger also reportedly stomped on the floor and smashed a plane window with his phone during the incident.

The First Warning Signs Mid-Flight

A 50-year-old passenger boarded Fuzhou Airlines’ domestic flight FU6509 alone at around 7 pm. Security officer Zhao Wenhui, who noticed the passenger’s strange behavior, observed that the individual seemed unable to focus and had bloodstains on his clothing. Trained in China’s SWAT unit ‘Snow leopard’ for two years, Mr. Zhao, sensing something amiss, decided to closely monitor the passenger after the flight took off.

The Moment It Went Downhill

Approximately 40 minutes before the scheduled landing, chaos ensued on the Fuzhou Airlines flight. The passenger, displaying emotional distress, demanded to call his family but was informed of the lack of phone signals on board. In response, he began pacing in the cabin, accusing the plane of being unsafe and expressing a desire to parachute. To manage the situation, the cabin crew seated him next to the security officer in an effort to gain control.

Approximately 10 minutes before the scheduled landing, the passenger abruptly rushed towards the galley and attempted to open a nearby door on the plane. Subsequently returned to his seat, the passenger began stomping heavily on the floor and proceeded to use his mobile phone to smash both a window and his seat.

What Happened in the End?

Security officers, aided by flight attendants, physically restrained the disruptive passenger on the Fuzhou Airlines flight. Unfortunately, one flight attendant sustained injuries during the process. Despite the incident, the plane landed safely, and the passenger was handed over to airport police. The airline suggested that the passenger was likely mentally ill, without specifying the nature of the illness.

Similar Situation Where a Passenger Opened the Door Mid-Flight

On Flight OZ8124, an Airbus A321-200 jet departing from Jeju Island, a male passenger opened the emergency door approximately one hour into the flight. The incident occurred during the landing phase when the plane was just 250 meters from the ground. A passenger’s video on social media revealed the gap in the plane’s left-hand side, exposing seated passengers to strong winds. Witnesses reported that flight attendants were unable to prevent the man from opening the door due to the imminent landing. Additionally, the disruptive passenger attempted to jump out of the plane after opening the emergency door.

How would you have handled the situation?

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