"First Time on a Plane"... Chinese Woman in Urgent Need Startled While Trying to Open Emergency Exit

Flight Cancellations and Passengers Moved to Hotels
Illegal Acts Including Emergency Exit Opening and Detention on Chinese Flights

A woman in China mistakenly opened an emergency exit, thinking it was the restroom. It is reported that this was her first time flying.

On the 8th, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) and others reported that on the 4th, an emergency door of a passenger plane preparing for takeoff at Quzhou Airport in China was opened, causing a commotion.
[Image source=South China Morning Post (SCMP)]

On the 8th, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) and other outlets reported that on the 4th, an emergency exit door on a passenger plane preparing for takeoff at Quzhou Airport in China was opened, causing a commotion. The incident occurred on China International Airlines flight CA2754, which was scheduled to fly from Quzhou to Chengdu.

The flight was scheduled to take off at 8:45 PM that day but was delayed. At that time, a female passenger, identified as Ms. A, suddenly opened the emergency exit door, causing the emergency evacuation slide to deploy. As a result, the flight was canceled, and all passengers had to disembark. Police investigations confirmed that Ms. A, who was flying for the first time, mistakenly opened the emergency exit door thinking it was the onboard restroom. It was reported that no one noticed her actions until the emergency door was opened. A witness explained, "When the evacuation slide deployed, the flight attendants were startled," and added, "Ms. A cried when told she would have to pay compensation." Passengers were moved to a hotel and each received compensation worth 400 yuan (approximately 76,000 KRW).

There may be concerns that aircraft emergency exits open too easily, but they are designed to open easily to allow for rapid operation in emergencies. Once opened, the emergency evacuation slide deploys, and the aircraft may be grounded for several days for maintenance. The media added that operating an emergency evacuation slide costs between 100,000 and 200,000 yuan (approximately 18.97 million to 37.94 million KRW).

Opening an aircraft emergency exit without authorization in China is illegal and can result in detention. In June 2017, a passenger at Beijing Airport was detained for 12 days after accidentally opening an emergency exit, and in February 2015, a passenger who opened an emergency exit door at an airport in Jilin Province was fined over 6.6 million KRW.