Passengers Feared They Were Going To Die When Man Opened Plane Door Mid-Flight

In a shocking turn of events, chaos and panic erupted among the 194 passengers aboard a South Korean flight as a daring passenger opened the emergency door just moments before the plane's scheduled landing.

YONHAP via AP

The Asiana Airlines Airbus A321, concluding its journey from the picturesque Jeju island to Daegu, found itself in a heart-stopping situation when a courageous individual pulled the emergency exit handle at an altitude of approximately 700 feet.

Despite the valiant efforts of some passengers to prevent access to the door, it partially opened, unleashing a rush of wind throughout the cabin, leaving terrified fliers gripping their armrests in fear.

Notably, among those onboard were several teenage athletes eagerly headed to a weekend sporting event in Ulsan, further amplifying the intensity of the situation.

As the plane made its safe landing, the harrowing incident left a lasting impact, with over a dozen individuals sustaining minor injuries, as confirmed by the Transportation Ministry.

Disturbingly, some passengers displayed symptoms of breathing difficulty, necessitating their immediate transfer to a local hospital, as reported by Yonhap.

As the plane made its safe landing, the harrowing incident left a lasting impact, with over a dozen individuals sustaining minor injuries, as confirmed by the Transportation Ministry.

"I thought the plane was blowing up. I thought I was going to die like this," the 44-year-old added.

One teen's mother told the news outlet: "Children quivered and cried in panic. Those sitting near the exit must have been shocked the most."

YONHAP via AP

Following the incident, authorities swiftly apprehended the suspect, a man in his 30s, at Daegu International Airport.

As per CNN's report, the individual confessed to opening the door but remained tight-lipped about his motives behind the alarming act.

Eyewitness accounts reveal that the disturbed passenger not only opened the emergency door but also attempted to jump out of the aircraft, as reported by local media.

"It is difficult to have a normal conversation with him," an official said, according to the BBC. "We will investigate the motive of the crime and punish him."

Geoffrey Thomas, an aviation expert with Airline Ratings, described the incident as "very bizarre."

"Technically, it's not possible to open those doors in flight," he told CNN.

He said winds of about 170 mph would have been passing the plane when the door was opened.

YONHAP via AP

"It seems implausible that the door could be opened in the first place and then against the airstream technically impossible, but somehow or another it has happened," Thomas added.

CNN reported that the Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Ministry has announced that an aviation safety official will conduct an investigation to determine if there were any abnormalities in the maintenance of the aircraft involved in the incident.