Earlier today, Friday 26 May, an Asiana Airlines scheduled flight on approach to Daegu Airport in South Korea was involved in an incident when an emergency exit was apparently opened by a passenger prior to landing.
Asiana Airlines flight OZ8124, operated by an Airbus A321, was on approach to Daegu Airport, South Korea, when an emergency exit door was reportedly opened by a passenger seated near the exit.
The flight had departed from Jeju International Airport at 11:40 AM local time and had been scheduled to arrive at Daegu Airport at 12:45 PM.
According to South Korean news source KBS World, a spokesperson for Asiana Airlines said: “There is a statement that a passenger on the emergency exit opened the door by touching the lever, and the police are currently investigating.”
“We are investigating why the adult male tried to open the door,” the airline spokesperson said.
According to the news source, the flight was carrying 192 passengers, and video footage which subsequently surfaced on social media shows the interior of the cabin with the passenger door open.
The aircraft subsequently landed with the cabin door open and passengers were disembarked. KBS World have reported that eight passengers were subsequently transported to a nearby hospital where they are receiving treatment.
UPDATE
New sources confirm a male passenger had opened the emergency exit door whilst the aircraft was on its approach passing through 213 metres (700 feet).
Citing local police authorities, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency said the man, who is aged in his thirties, told police that he felt suffocated and wanted to get off the plane quickly.
During questioning it was reported the man had lost his job recently and was under a lot of stress.
None of the occupants of the aircraft were injured during the incident; however 12 passengers has showed signs of breathing difficulties as a result of the panic, and some were taken to a nearby hospital.
