Man opens plane emergency door because it was “too hot”
Here at Travel Weekly, we know Mondays can be tough. Which is why we bring you yet another hilariously ridiculous airline story!
And yes, you read the headline right. A “Mr Chen” onboard a flight in China apparently wanted some air – so chose to open an emergency exit door. Obviously.
And not only did he open the emergency door, he also deployed the evacuation slide. Luckily, the plane had already landed in Mianyang City, in south-western China’s Sichuan Province.
According to Yahoo 7, the Lucky Air flight had just landed at Nanjiao Airport after coming from the city of Sanya, capital of South China’s Hainan Province.
As all passengers were set to disembark the aircraft, 25-year-old Chen took it upon himself to reach over to his nearest exit and lifted the latch. You know, the one that you’re only supposed to lift up during an emergency?
The plane’s evacuation slide deployed automatically, and Chen was promptly arrested by airport police.
After being handed over to Mianyang Public Security Bureau, he was questioned and has since been detained for 15 days.
The police said Chen told them he “waited in the aisle for 10 minutes as passengers left the plane”, and thought the cabin was “too stuffy and too hot”.
Then he “lifted the latch next to the window” and “the door just fell off”.
Chen also apparently wasn’t aware that planes even had emergency cabin doors – claiming he had no idea the latch he lifted was the plane’s cabin door.
Whether Chen knew about cabin doors on planes or not, he caused massive delays and expenses in manpower and equipment – totalling up to almost $21,000 according to Mianyang City’s civil aviation administration.
And if his actions damaged the evacuation slide (which they might’ve, BTW) the estimated damages could be up to three times as much.
Lucky Air may or may not seek compensation from Chen – stay tuned!
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
emergency exit evacuation slide Lucky Air Nanjiao AirportLatest News
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