Whenever you’ve flown on an airplane, you’ve more than likely had that thought in the back of your mind:
“What if we crash? What if somebody opens up the emergency exit door?”
At least once. If you haven’t, then you may be the most laid back person of all time, because I’d be lying if I said that thought hasn’t come through my mind at least a time or two.
With that being said, this nightmare became a horrifying reality for these passengers.
According to Daily Mail, an Asiana Airlines flight carrying 194 passengers departed from the island of Jeju, and was heading to the South Korean city of Daegu, when a passenger grabbed the emergency exit lever, and opened the door up.
Witnesses say that children began to shake with fear and cry when the senseless move happened, and some 12 passengers had to be taken to the hospital to be treated for breathing difficulties once the plane landed at Daego Airport at 12:40 PM local time.
Police have detained a male in his 30s for questioning after he opened the door at 650 feet above the ground, but it is still unclear why he did it.
The Transport Ministry said that other passengers tried to stop the man.
They told the outlet:
“Police are questioning him jointly with the land and transport ministry over aviation safety laws violations.
Under these laws, a person who opens the plane door without authoritarian is subject to a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.”
The flight was also carrying 48 teenage athletes who were gearing up to compete in a national sports event in the city of Ulsan.
Video footage shows strong wind coming through the open door, with seatbacks and passengers’ hair flapping.
A 44-year-old passenger described it as “chaos:”
“It was chaos with people close to the door appearing to faint one by one and flight attendants calling out for doctors on board through broadcasting while others were running down the aisle in panic.
I thought the plane was blowing up. I thought I was going to die like this.”
The mother of one of the athletes said:
“Children quivered and cried in panic. Those sitting near the exit must have been shocked the most.”
I can’t imagine the terror these passengers went through, but it could’ve been much worse.
