Why Was the Arrest Warrant Denied for the 20-Year-Old Who Tried to Open the Airplane Door While Intoxicated with Drugs?

Attempt to Open Airplane Door Prevented... Positive Drug Test
Court: "No Risk of Escape or Evidence Tampering"

A passenger in their 20s who attempted to open an emergency exit on a passenger plane while under the influence of methamphetamine avoided detention.

Kim Seong-su, the chief judge in charge of warrants at the Incheon District Court, conducted a pre-arrest detention hearing on the 24th for A (26, female), who is accused of violating the Aviation Security Act and the Narcotics Control Act, and dismissed the arrest warrant.

On the 22nd, around 2 a.m., A boarded a Korean Air passenger plane departing from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, heading to Incheon International Airport. However, 10 hours after the flight took off, she exhibited signs of distress on board and attempted several times to open the emergency exit but was restrained by the flight attendants.

The police conducted a voluntary accompaniment investigation upon A’s arrival at Incheon Airport and performed a rapid drug test. When the test showed a positive result for drugs, she was urgently arrested. The investigation revealed that A had stayed in New York for more than six months before entering the country and had no history of psychiatric treatment.

Judge Kim explained the reason for dismissing the arrest warrant, stating, “A appears to have a fixed residence in Korea and seems to require treatment for persistent delusional symptoms. Considering that her parents petitioned to have her hospitalized for treatment and the evidence secured, there is no concern of flight or evidence tampering.”

Meanwhile, on the 21st, Jeong Jin-woo, chief judge of the Criminal Division 5 at Daegu District Court, sentenced Lee (32) to three years in prison with a four-year suspended sentence for opening the passenger door of a plane while it was landing over Daegu Airport, and ordered probation and psychiatric treatment.

Lee was tried for opening the door at an altitude of 224 meters before an Asiana Airlines plane carrying 197 passengers, departing from Jeju and heading to Daegu, landed at Daegu Airport on May 26.

Due to Lee’s disturbance, nine people, including elementary school students, experienced breathing difficulties and were immediately taken to the hospital after landing.

During the trial, Lee admitted to all charges but claimed to have been in a state of diminished mental capacity at the time of the offense. The court’s psychiatric evaluation also confirmed a state of diminished mental capacity.

Judge Jeong stated, “The crime is very serious as opening the emergency door on a moving aircraft could have led to a major accident,” but also explained the sentencing by saying, “He admitted to the crime, and the psychiatric evaluation suggests the possibility of schizophrenia.”