Plane Door Opened Before Landing: Nine People Have Difficulty Breathing, Suspected Perpetrator Detained

Illustration of the Asiana Airlines fleet. (Wikimedia Commons/Anna Zvereva)

JAKARTA - The emergency exit of an Asiana Airlines plane carrying 194 people was opened just before landing at Daegu International Airport, South Korea on Friday, causing nine passengers to have difficulty breathing, even though the plane landed safely, officials said.

After taking off from Jeju Island, flight OZ8124 was flying to Daegu, 237 kilometers southeast of Seoul, when the emergency exit suddenly opened at 12:45 local time, according to airport officials and industry sources.

The plane was about 250 meters above the ground when the doors opened, officials said. The plane landed shortly after with the doors open.

None of the 194 people on board fell from the plane or were injured. However, nine passengers who panicked showed signs of difficulty breathing and were taken to hospital.

Neither one is in serious condition and may be hyperventilating.

Police detained a 33-year-old man on suspicion of pulling a door lever and opening it. The man was not in a drunken state at the time of his detention, but remained silent about why he opened the door.

"It is difficult to have a normal conversation with him. We will investigate the motive of the crime and seek punishment for him," said an official, according to the Korea Times May 26, adding that he was traveling alone.

Among the passengers were 48 primary and secondary school athletes, who were scheduled to compete in a national sporting event on Saturday in the nearby city of Ulsan.

"The children were shaking and crying in panic," said the mother of one of the children.

"Those sitting closest to the exit must have been very surprised," he said.

Quoting The National News, Asiana Airlines said the police had conducted a full investigation into the incident.

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— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) May 26, 2023