Man Forced Open Airplane Emergency Exit and Climbed Onto Wing... "Also Used E-Cigarette During Flight"

Refused to Serve Alcohol, Struggled with Flight Attendant
Ran on Wing to Runway and Was Arrested by Police

A man who opened the emergency exit door of a passenger plane and climbed onto the wing was arrested at Melbourne Airport in Australia.

Jetstar passenger plane. [Image source=AP News]

On the 22nd (local time), foreign media including the AP reported that the Australian Federal Police arrested a man in his 30s at Melbourne Airport on charges of violating safety protocols. The man forcibly opened the emergency exit door as the Jetstar flight JQ507, heading from Sydney to Melbourne, landed on the runway. When the emergency exit door opened, the emergency slide automatically deployed, and the man is accused of exiting through the emergency exit and walking on the wing. He then descended onto the runway by riding the engine. This scene was also captured in a video taken by one of the passengers through the window.

A Jetstar JQ507 passenger plane heading from Sydney to Melbourne landed on the runway, and a man forcibly opened the emergency exit door, exited through the emergency exit, and walked on the wing. The man then climbed down to the runway via the engine. [Image source=7 News]

One passenger testified, "As soon as the plane stopped, the man rushed toward the emergency exit, pushing people aside and opening the emergency exit door," adding, "Passengers were very frightened and screamed." Melbourne Airport staff first detained the man and later handed him over to the Australian Federal Police. Melbourne Airport stated, "We are proud of our staff's response," and added, "Thanks to the quick response, no other passengers or staff were put at risk."

The man who caused the disturbance was also confirmed to have caused several problems during the 90-minute flight. A passenger who was on the same flight said, "The man ignored the seatbelt sign, and despite crew members repeatedly asking him to remain seated, he ignored them," adding, "He also smoked an electronic cigarette throughout the flight and argued with the crew over not being served alcohol."

The police plan to review whether to prosecute the man based on further investigation. A police official said, "The investigation is ongoing, and there is a high possibility of prosecution."

Meanwhile, as the emergency evacuation slide deployed, the unloading of luggage from the plane was delayed, and passengers were only able to retrieve their bags several hours after landing.