12 injured after man opens emergency exit door on Asiana Airlines flight

Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY
Updated ·2 min read
4

At least 12 people suffered injuries Friday after officials said a passenger opened an Asiana Airlines commercial plane door during a flight in South Korea.

The incident took place on an Airbus A321 jet in East Asia as the plane, carrying 194 people was heading to the city of Daegu from the southern island of Jeju, Asiana Airlines and government officials confirmed.

A man sitting in the emergency seat row opened the door when the aircraft was about 700 feet from the ground and nearly two minutes from landing in the city about 150 miles south of Seoul, the South Korean Transport Ministry said, according to the Associated Press.

Passengers on board reported they attempted to stop the man, who was able to partially open the door, officials reported.

Video shot by what appears to be someone sitting three rows behind the emergency exit aisle, shows the plane in the air, with an emergency exit door open to the person's left.

Passengers sitting in seats next to the open door appear to remain buckled while articles of their clothing blow behind their heads in the footage.

The plane landed safely.

An Asiana Airlines plane is parked as one of the plane's doors suddenly opened at Daegu International Airport in Daegu, South Korea, Friday, May 26, 2023. A passenger opened a door on an Asiana Airlines flight that later landed safely at a South Korean airport Friday, airline and government officials said.
An Asiana Airlines plane is parked as one of the plane's doors suddenly opened at Daegu International Airport in Daegu, South Korea, Friday, May 26, 2023. A passenger opened a door on an Asiana Airlines flight that later landed safely at a South Korean airport Friday, airline and government officials said.
Rescue workers move a passenger on a stretcher to an ambulance at Daegu International Airport in Daegu, South Korea, Friday, May 26, 2023. A passenger opened a door on an Asiana Airlines flight that later landing safely at a South Korean airport Friday, airline and government officials said.
Rescue workers move a passenger on a stretcher to an ambulance at Daegu International Airport in Daegu, South Korea, Friday, May 26, 2023. A passenger opened a door on an Asiana Airlines flight that later landing safely at a South Korean airport Friday, airline and government officials said.

When the plane landed, airport police arrested the man on charges including violating the aviation security law, a ministry statement said.

Officials have not released the man's identity yet. According to ministry transportation laws, he faces up to 10 years in prison in connection to the incident.

According to local emergency officials, crews transported 12 passengers to hospitals for treatment in connection to "breathing problems and other minor symptoms."

An emergency exit door of an Asiana Airlines plane is seen at Daegu International Airport in Daegu, South Korea, Friday, May 26, 2023, after a passenger opened it during a flight. A passenger opened the emergency exit door during a South Korean flight Friday, causing air to gust inside the cabin before the plane landed safely, airline and government officials said.

'Severe ear pain'

Footage shot on board shows some of the passengers’ hair being blown about by air blasting into the cabin through the open door.

Passengers screamed and cried, Yonhap news agency reported, and some said they suffered "severe ear pain" after the door opened.

Police officers in plain clothes arrest an airplane passenger at Daegu International Airport in Daegu, South Korea, Friday, May 26, 2023, as he is suspected of opening an emergency exit door on an Asiana Airlines plane during a flight. A passenger opened an emergency exit door during a South Korean flight Friday, causing air to gust inside the cabin before the plane landed safely, airline and government officials said.

Photos shot on the ground show at least one person being loaded into the back of an ambulance. Another shot taken inside the plane displays police arresting the person suspected of opening the plane door.

More coverage from USA TODAY Network

Airplane passenger hits flight attendant Frontier passenger hit flight attendant with intercom phone, airline says

Do not recline your seat on the plane No, you shouldn't recline your seat on planes. Here's why.

Contributing: Associated Press

Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Asiana Airlines video shows emergency door open in flight; 12 hurt