South Korean accused of opening airliner’s door could face prison
SEOUL — A man who opened an emergency exit door during a flight in South Korea was arrested Sunday and faces up to 10 years in prison on a charge of violating aviation security law, officials said.
During preliminary questioning, the 33-year-old told investigators he felt suffocated during the flight Friday and tried to get off the plane quickly, according to police.
Twelve people were slightly injured after he opened the door of the Asiana Airlines Airbus A321200, causing air to blast inside the cabin. Passengers were terrified, and some testified that they suffered severe ear pain. A video shared on social media shows people’s hair being whipped by air blowing into the cabin.
Normally, emergency exit doors cannot be opened midflight due to the difference in air pressure inside and outside of the plane. But during Friday’s incident, the plane was at a low altitude while preparing to land, and there wasn’t much difference in pressure, according to Asiana Airlines officials.
The Transportation Ministry said the plane was at an altitude of 700 feet when the man — identified by his surname, Lee — pulled the door open. The plane was preparing to land in Daegu after an hourlong flight from the southern island of Jeju, with 200 people on board, including teenage athletes on their way to a track and field competition, according to the airline.
On Sunday, a district court in Daegu approved a warrant to arrest Lee. Daegu police said they had sought the warrant, citing the graveness of the crime and the possibility that he would flee.
“I wanted to get off the plane soon,” Lee, whose face was covered by a black hoodie, a cap and a mask, told reporters at the court ahead of its review of his arrest warrant. “I’m really sorry to kids,” he said, in a likely reference to the teenage athletes.
Daegu police said they have up to 20 days to investigate Lee before determining whether to send him to prosecutors for a possible indictment. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for breaching the aviation security law that bars passengers from handling entry doors, emergency exit doors and other equipment, according to the Transportation Ministry.
Daegu police said Lee told them he was under stress after losing a job.
The people who were taken to hospitals were treated for minor problems, such as difficulty breathing.
Asiana Airlines said in a statement that starting Sunday, it would not seat passengers in the emergency exit rows on its A321200 planes, as a safety precaution.
Lee had been seated near the emergency exit, airline officials said.