Just the Sight is 'Dizzying'... The Fate of a Passenger Who Tried to Open the Emergency Exit Over the Atlantic Ocean

Fortunately, the Door Did Not Open Due to Pressure Difference Between Inside and Outside
Restrained Until Arrival at Destination According to Flight Regulations

A passenger caused a disturbance on a plane flying over the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, attempting to open the emergency exit. On the 5th (local time), foreign media including Infobae Spain and Business Insider reported on an incident involving a passenger on Plus Ultra Airlines flight 701, which took off from Madrid, Spain, and was heading to Caracas, Venezuela, on the 28th of last month.

The incident began when a man on board hit another passenger who was asleep in the adjacent seat and shouted loudly. At the time, the aircraft was flying over the Atlantic Ocean. The flight attendants calmed the man down and moved him to another seat. However, a few minutes later, the man suddenly lunged toward the emergency exit and attempted to forcibly open it. X (Ex)

The incident began when a man inside the cabin started hitting another passenger who was asleep in the adjacent seat and shouting loudly. At that time, the aircraft was flying over the Atlantic Ocean. Flight attendants calmed the man down and moved him to another seat. However, a few minutes later, the man suddenly lunged toward the emergency exit and attempted to forcibly open it. Videos released on social media show the terrifying scene inside the plane flying over the Atlantic, where passengers screamed in fear, and flight attendants and passengers worked together to pin him down on the floor and restrain him. During the restraint, one flight attendant suffered a fractured tibia and is currently receiving treatment. The man was restrained in the rear seats of the plane according to flight regulations until arrival at the destination.

The airline stated that after the plane safely arrived at its destination, the disruptive passenger was handed over to the police. However, the airline did not disclose the reason for the passenger’s disturbance or personal information such as nationality. A representative of the airline emphasized, "Two flight attendants stayed by his side until landing, judging that the passenger might engage in other sudden behaviors such as self-harm." They added, "Fortunately, all passengers are safe. When the aircraft approaches an altitude of 10,000 feet (approximately 3,050 meters), the pressure difference inside and outside the aircraft prevents the door from opening."

According to a video released on social networking services (SNS), the incident occurred inside an airplane flying over the Atlantic Ocean. Passengers screamed in terror, and flight attendants and passengers worked together to pin him to the floor and restrain him. During the restraint, one flight attendant suffered a fractured tibia and is currently undergoing treatment. X (Ex)

This is not the first time a passenger has attempted to open an emergency exit door during a flight. In February, an Iberia Airlines passenger assaulted a flight attendant and tried to open the emergency exit to jump onto the runway while the plane was preparing for takeoff. Also, in May 2023, a man in his 30s on an Asiana Airlines flight from Jeju to Daegu forcibly operated the emergency exit door mechanism and opened the door, resulting in his arrest. It was reported that the door opened because the pressure difference inside and outside the plane was not significant just before landing. Passengers who disembarked onto the runway with the door open experienced extreme fear and anxiety, and some were transported to hospitals, but fortunately, there were no injuries. However, the external emergency exit slide detached, causing damage to the aircraft.