19-Year-Old Male Faces Court for Attempting to Open Aircraft Door Mid-Flight on Jeju Air

Summary: A 19-year-old male is set to appear in court on June 20, 2023, after attempting to open the aircraft door of a Boeing B737 during a Jeju Air flight. The incident took place on a flight from Cebu International Airport (CEB) to Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN) on June 19, 2023.

Description: In an early morning flight from Cebu to Seoul, an unidentified passenger began displaying unusual behavior, complaining of feeling “stuffy.” In response, the flight attendants relocated the passenger to the front row for monitoring.

However, things took a dangerous turn when the passenger tried to forcibly open the B737 door mid-flight. Fortunately, due to the aircraft’s pressurized cabin, the door remained secure.

Alert and quick action by the flight attendants and fellow passengers resulted in restraining the individual until the flight landed in Incheon. Authorities from the Incheon Police then arrested the 19-year-old upon arrival.

During the investigation, it was reported that the individual asked authorities about the number of life jackets on the aircraft and questioned the potential consequences for the flight crew if he had succeeded in opening the door during the flight.

This incident comes in the wake of a similar event where a passenger opened a door mid-flight on an Asiana Airlines Airbus A321 landing at Daegu International Airport (TAE), South Korea, causing substantial damages of approximately 640 million won ($499,000).

It’s essential to note that the unauthorized opening of an aircraft door is a serious offense. Though there are no fines for violating the Aviation Security Act, offenders may face up to 10 years in prison as punishment.