'Caught This Guy'... Red Pants Passenger Subdues Culprit Who Opened Aircraft Door

There was a passenger who restrained the suspect in his 30s until the end, even during the "terrifying landing" of Asiana Airlines. That passenger was Yoonjun Lee (48), who was seated next to the suspect on the plane.

In a recent interview with Yonhap News, Mr. Lee recalled the incident during the door-opening accident on the flight from Jeju to Daegu on the 26th, saying, "Suddenly, my hat and headset flew off, so I looked up and saw the door was open," and added, "I felt like that guy (the suspect) gave me a sly smile."

Within a few seconds, the plane's wheels touched the runway as it landed, and Mr. Lee heard the sound of a seatbelt unfastening beside him. The suspect had unbuckled his seatbelt and suddenly stood up. The suspect was reportedly hanging on the wall next to the emergency exit by the open door and looked back.

(Left) On the afternoon of the 27th, Lee Yoon-jun (48), who subdued the culprit of the Asiana Airlines door-opening incident that occurred the previous day, is responding to an interview with Yonhap News Agency at a cafe in Buk-gu, Daegu. [Image source=Yonhap News Agency]

(Right) Lee Yoon-jun (wearing red pants in the photo) sitting inside the Asiana Airlines aircraft with the door open during flight. [Image source=Yonhap News Agency, provided by a reader]

The flight attendant, who kept exchanging eye contact, shouted, "Help me," and Mr. Lee stretched out his left arm, grabbed the suspect's nape, and subdued him. Since Mr. Lee was still buckled in and could not stand up, he struggled to hold the suspect's neck tightly with his hands to prevent him from jumping out. After wrestling for several seconds, three or four flight attendants rushed over. Passengers also came to help. They dragged the suspect to the inner aisle of the plane. The plane was still taxiing on the runway after landing.

Mr. Lee said, "At the time, no one really saw the door opening properly, so they didn't think that guy was the suspect and mistakenly thought he was scared and trying to jump out." He added, "Elementary school children sitting behind were crying," and said, "It was truly a panic."

At 11:49 AM on the 26th, Asiana Airlines flight OZ8124 departing from Jeju Airport had its door suddenly open just before landing at Daegu Airport at 12:45 PM.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

He said, "I didn't realize it was such a serious incident and spent the day after returning to Daegu, but I was heartbroken to see many malicious comments online criticizing the flight attendants," adding, "The fact that no further accidents occurred was thanks to the flight attendants who managed the situation." He continued, "The flight attendant who kept signaling me with her eyes acted calmly until the end," and said, "Those who subdued the suspect during the landing could have been thrown out, but they handled it very safely and well."

On the afternoon of the 26th, the emergency exit of the Asiana Airlines plane that made an emergency landing at Daegu International Airport was seen damaged as it was opened in an emergency.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Mr. Lee reportedly insisted throughout the interview that his face not be revealed. When he realized he appeared in videos circulating online, he gave an embarrassed smile. His KakaoTalk status message reads "A great man."

On the afternoon of the 26th, a man in his 30s, Mr. A, who boarded an Asiana Airlines flight from Jeju Airport to Daegu Airport, was urgently arrested by the police on suspicion of opening the aircraft door just before landing (violation of the Aviation Security Act). The photo shows Mr. A (wearing a black top) being transferred from Daegu Dongchon Police Substation to Daegu Dongbu Police Station. Photo by Yonhap News.

The Daegu Dongbu Police Station has been investigating the suspect, Mr. Lee (33), for three days after urgently arresting him on charges of violating the Aviation Security Act. Mr. Lee is accused of opening the door at an altitude of 213 meters just before landing on the Asiana Airlines flight from Jeju to Daegu on the 26th. The police plan to apply for an arrest warrant for Mr. A as soon as the additional investigation is completed.