Prosecutors Indict Teenager for Attempting to Open Passenger Plane Door Mid-Flight While in Methamphetamine Addiction State

'Acute Philopon Poisoning' "Passengers Attacked and Opened Door to Die Together"

A minor who attempted to open the aircraft door while addicted to Philopon during a flight has been brought to trial.

On the 11th, the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office Special Investigation Team on Drug Crimes (Chief Prosecutor Kim Yeon-sil) announced that they have arrested and indicted A (18) on charges of violating the Aviation Security Act and psychotropic drug offenses under the Narcotics Control Act.

A is accused of causing a disturbance by attempting to open the emergency exit on a Jeju Air passenger plane departing from Cebu Airport in the Philippines to Incheon International Airport at around 5:30 a.m. on June 19. About one hour after takeoff, he tried several times to open the emergency door but was subdued by flight attendants and other passengers. Additionally, A is suspected of having used 1.6 grams of Philopon twice during his stay in Cebu, Philippines, from around June 8 to 17.

The prosecution conducted a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether A was addicted to drugs or mentally impaired and to assess the need for treatment and custody, considering his motive for the crime, which was reportedly "to die together with others because other passengers were attacking him on the plane."

The results confirmed that at the time of the incident, A was experiencing acute Philopon intoxication due to short-term excessive use, which caused temporary delusions of reference, but he is currently maintaining a normal mental state.