A Passenger Tries to Open Korean Air Emergency Exit Door Mid-Flight

On November 7, on Korean Air Flight KE658 one of the 238 passengers attempted to open the emergency exit door mid-flight bound for Incheon from Bangkok. The man, who reportedly threatened cabin crew members and ignored multiple warnings, was ultimately subdued with the help of fellow passengers. He was later handed over to South Korean authorities. The aircraft operating this flight was a 24-year-old Airbus A330-323, registered as HL7586.

A Mid-Flight Attempt to Open the Emergency Door

According to South Korean news outlet Maeil Business Newspaper (MK), the man’s behavior escalated shortly after the flight took off from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. Shortly into the flight, the passenger took a seat in the crew-only emergency exit row. When cabin crew asked him to return to his designated seat, he refused. Instead, he moved towards the emergency exit door and grabbed the latch, appearing intent on opening it.

Cabin Crew and Passengers Intervene

Footage posted on TikTok captures the nine-second scene as the man, dressed in a white T-shirt, faces off against a cabin crew member near the emergency exit. Holding up his phone, he pointed it at the crew before reaching for the door latch. This prompted immediate action from a female crew member, who tried to pull him away from the door. As he resisted, a struggle broke out. With assistance from another passenger and additional crew members, they managed to overpower him and prevent what could have been a disastrous outcome.

After subduing the man, crew members moved him to a separate area to diffuse the situation and keep him away from other passengers. This measure, as advised by the pilot, ensured that he would not pose further risk to those onboard.

Legal Consequences Await

The incident did not affect the flight schedule. Korean Air officials confirmed that Flight KE658 arrived at Incheon International Airport on time, landing around 4:45 a.m.

The man was promptly handed over to Incheon International Airport Police for investigation. Authorities are expected to evaluate potential charges, given that the man’s actions violated Korea’s Aviation Security Act, a serious offense under South Korean law.

A Growing Trend of Onboard Incidents

Recent incidents in South Korea highlight a concerning pattern of passengers attempting to tamper with emergency exits during flights. In May 2023, a passenger on an Asiana Airlines flight managed to open an emergency exit just before landing at Daegu International Airport, causing nine passengers to suffer breathing difficulties that required hospital treatment. Another alarming case occurred in June, when a passenger under the influence of drugs attempted to open a Jeju Airlines plane door; in this instance, crew members used a lasso to subdue him.

• Featured image by Ulrich Latzenhofer

Youssef Yahya

Youssef Yahya is the CEO and Founder of Aviation for Aviators, a platform dedicated to the aviation industry. With over 3 years of experience as an aviation writer, Youssef is passionate about sharing his insights on aviation, entrepreneurship, and the broader business landscape. As a Teaching Assistant in Entrepreneurship at Nile University, he also nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurs. When he’s not exploring the skies or business ventures, you can find him saying, ‘Drag your coffee, and let’s talk aviation, entrepreneurship, and football.’

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