Photo:Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
A man whoopened the emergency door mid-flighton an Asiana Airlines plane to South Korea on Friday explained he did so because he felt suffocated, police said on Saturday.
According to the Yonhap News Agency, police said theunidentified 33-year-old mantold authorities he had been “under a lot of stress after losing his job recently” and opened the door because hewanted to get off the plane quickly.
Yonhap News Agency reported that following further questioning, authorities will issue an arrest warrant for the man for violating the aviation security law, which prohibits people onboard an aircraft from opening an emergency exit. This carries the potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
Asiana Airlines officials previously toldNBC Newsthe incident happened shortly before the plane landed on its hour-long flight from Daegu to Jeju island on Friday. At the time, the Airbus aircraft had been flying at about 700 feet, added NBC.
The airline told NBC News that there were 200 people onboard, including staff, and that other passengers had tried to prevent the man from opening the door andjumping out.
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The Korean Transport Ministry toldABC Newsin a statement that the man was previously detained after landing.
It added that passengers weretreated at the hospitalfor symptoms including hyperventilation, while others reported suffering ear pain immediately after the emergency door was opened, reported ABC News.
Passengers on the flight included teenage athletes who planned to attend track and field competitions in Ulsan, another city in South Korea, according to multiple outlets.
source: people.com
