In what would be anyone’s worst nightmare, an airplane door swung open when a passenger grabbed the emergency exit lever.
Video shows passengers clinging to their seats as the wind blew through the plane as it descended towards the South Korean city of Daegu on Friday.
The children began shaking in fear and crying when the door of the Asiana Airlines plane suddenly opened, witnesses said.
Nine passengers were so terrified they were sent to hospital with breathing difficulties once the plane landed safely at Daego airport at 12:40 p.m. local time with the door still open.
Police detained a passenger in his 30s for questioning after opening the door while the plane was still about 200 meters above the ground, Yonhap news agency reports. We don’t know why he did it.
In what would be anyone’s worst nightmare, a plane door swung open when a passenger grabbed the emergency exit lever
An open door of an Asiana Airlines plane is seen at Daegu International Airport in Daegu on Friday after a passenger opened it
Rescuers move a passenger on a stretcher to an ambulance at Daegu International Airport in Daegu after the door to their flight opened on Friday
Some people on board tried to stop the man from opening the door, but were unsuccessful, the transport ministry said.
The plane, carrying 194 people including 48 teenage athletes who were due to compete in a national sporting event in the city of Olsan, had taken off from Jeju Island when the gate opened.
“The children were shaking and crying in panic,” said the mother of one of the athletes. “Those sitting near the exit must have been the most shocked.”
An Asiana Airlines spokesperson said authorities are investigating whether the gate was opened.
“Police are investigating the incident after a passenger who was seated near the emergency exit reported touching his lever,” an Asiana Airlines spokesperson said.
Police arrested a passenger in their 30s for questioning (pictured) after opening the door while the plane was still around 650ft above the ground
Pictured: An open door of an Asiana Airlines plane is seen at Daegu International Airport in Daegu on Friday after it was manually opened by a passenger
Rescue workers move students on stretchers at Daegu International Airport, Daegu, South Korea, after the plane’s door opened in the air
Although it is rare for an aircraft door to open while the aircraft is in flight, it has happened before.
In January, the rear door of a Russian An-26 plane opened shortly after takeoff in the coldest region of the world.
The pilot made a quick emergency landing at Magan in Siberia’s Yakutsk region, and everyone on board was “safe” despite the intense cold in the cabin during the tragedy.