A flight attendant was injured after trying to restrain an unruly passenger who attempted to open the emergency exit door while the plane was in mid-flight.
According to a report by the New York Post, the terrifying incident occurred on February 20. The Airbus 330 in question was en route to Caracas, Venezuela, from Madrid in Spain. A passenger onboard was reportedly "restless" and bothering another passenger while they tried to sleep.
His behavior prompted flight attendants to move the rowdy flier to another seat. Shortly after, the passenger reportedly got up and tried to force the emergency hatch open. Another passenger on the flight caught his actions on camera and the flight attendant's efforts to apprehend him.
Passengers are yelling in the video as staff try to pull the man away from the door and bring the situation under control. The video finishes with an image of the man on the floor with his hands tied together. Per the New York Post, a Plus Ultra spokesperson said, "Immediately, our cabin crew subdued the passenger and, following the action protocol, secured him in the back of the plane until he reached the destination. At all times, he was accompanied by two people from the crew, lying on the ground and attended to avoid any possible altercation." He was ultimately detained in Caracas when the plane landed, although one staff member suffered a partial fibula fracture during the scuffle.
It's Impossible To Pull An Airliner Door Open Mid-Flight
As terrifying as the situation is, it's worth pointing out that the door wouldn't budge no matter what the passenger tried. Per an article by Simply Flying, cabin crews follow a multi-step procedure to lock aircraft doors. They require a similar process to open again. Aircraft crews lock plane doors mechanically, and while it's possible to open them on the ground, it's a different story when the aircraft takes flight.
On top of the mechanical locks, anyone trying to open plane doors mid-flight has to contend with air pressure, too. The cabin pressure is so intense when an aircraft is thousands of feet in the sky that it's impossible for a single passenger to open the door. Simple Flying also explains that several people have attempted to open the plane door prematurely in the past. It usually results in handcuffs and detainment.
