Seoul, South Korea (CNN) — The door of an Asiana Airlines jet opened as it was coming in to land in Daegu, South Korea, on Friday afternoon, leaving wind whipping through the plane’s cabin as terrified passengers gripped their armrests, video of the incident shows.
An airline official said a man in his 30s who was sitting at the emergency seat seemed to have opened the door when the aircraft was about 700 feet (213 meters) above the ground and about two to three minutes from landing in the city 150 miles (240 kilometers) south of Seoul.
A man in his thirties has been arrested at Daegu airport in connection with the opening of a door while the plane was still in flight, according to local police.
However, company officials told CNN the plane had landed safely.
Local police said a man has been arrested. They said he confessed to opening the door, but would not say why he did it.
South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement that police and the ministry are investigating an individual over violation of aviation law.
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A total of 200 people were on board, including 194 passengers, according to Asiana Airlines.
An Asiana Airlines plane is parked as one of the plane's doors suddenly opened at Daegu International Airport in Daegu, South Korea, Friday, May 26, 2023.
Rescue workers move a passenger on a stretcher to an ambulance at Daegu International Airport in Daegu, South Korea, Friday, May 26, 2023.
Police officers in plain clothes arrest an airplane passenger at Daegu International Airport in Daegu, South Korea, Friday, May 26, 2023, as he is suspected of opening an emergency exit door on an Asiana Airlines plane during a flight.
According to the Daegu Fire Department, 12 people suffered minor injuries from hyperventilation and nine of them have been sent to hospitals in Daegu.
The aircraft was identified on the Flightradar 24 tracking website as an Airbus 321.
A man has been arrested for opening the emergency door of an Asiana Airlines flight as it came in to land in South Korea.
The jet was on a flight from Jeju island, off South Korea’s southern coast, to Daegu.
Aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas of Airline Ratings described the incident as “very bizarre.”
An emergency exit door of an Asiana Airlines plane is seen at Daegu International Airport in Daegu, South Korea, Friday, May 26, 2023, after a passenger opened it during a flight.
“Technically, it’s not possible to open those doors in flight,” he told CNN.
Thomas noted that the landing speed of an A321 is about 150 knots (172 mph), meaning winds of that speed are passing the aircraft. The door, behind the wing of the aircraft, opened into that airstream, he said.
“It seems implausible that the door could be opened in the first place and then against the airstream technically impossible, but somehow or another it has happened,” Thomas said.
The Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry said it had dispatched an aviation safety supervisor to the site to check whether there was an abnormality in aircraft maintenance.
Top 10 safest airlines to fly on right now
Top 10 safest airlines to fly on right now
After the mega slump in 2020, the airline industry is looking to get back in the game. Having racked up over $250 billion in losses while lockdown restrictions were in place, airlines are keen to mitigate the losses they've incurred. The surge in air travel numbers brings cheer to the beleaguered industry.
Way.com has been keeping track of the current safety procedures and trends for both U.S. and international airlines. Here's a compilation (in no particular order) of the safest U.S., international, and budget airlines to fly right now according to their air safety crash records.
Hawaiian Airlines
Major crashes in the last 50 years: 0
Worst crash: None
Hawaiian Airlines is one of the safest airlines in the United States, which should come as no surprise given its sterling crash-free record. The airline has a fleet comprised entirely of Boeing aircraft and an average age of 12.8 years, the third-highest in North America. Its planes are furnished with cutting-edge safety equipment and it has invested extensively in pilot training, including a "One Team Safety" strategy to monitor crew engagement while flying.
Delta Airlines
Major crashes in the last 50 years: 7
Worst crash: 50 people died in 2006
Delta Airlines is a large American airline that has a strong safety record. It has received multiple honors for its devotion to safety, including being named the "World's Most On-Time Airline" for several years in a row by FlightGlobal. To protect the safety of its passengers and crew, Delta Airlines says it deploys advanced safety technologies, requires rigorous training for its pilots and crew members, and continually updates its safety measures.
Alaska Airlines
Major crashes in the last 50 years: 3
Worst crash: 257 people died in the crash of 1979
Alaska Airlines has a strict maintenance program and the best "no fly" list in the industry to keep unsavory characters from getting on the plane. The last accident it had was in January 2000, and its 23 years without a fatal accident makes it one of the safest airlines in the United States. Every plane is checked every three months to make sure it is safe to fly, and it comes with high-tech safety features that let pilots know right away if something could go wrong.
American Airlines
Major crashes in the last 50 years: 14
Worst crash: 271 people died in the crash of 1979
American Airlines is the world's largest airline in terms of fleet size and revenue. It consistently obtains good safety ratings because of its strong emphasis on maintenance and regulatory compliance. American Airlines received the Airline Transport Association's Award for Excellence in Safety Management and Operations in 2020, which recognized its commitment to passenger safety in all areas.
United Airlines
Major crashes in the last 50 years: 11
Worst crash: 111 people died in the crash of 1989
United Airlines is regarded as one of the safest American airlines due to an impressive and lengthy track record of safety. The fleet of Boeing and Airbus aircraft, such as the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320 NEO, are among the most recent and technologically sophisticated in operation today. United Airlines has developed an emergency response plan for all onboard incidents and state-of-the-art emergency simulators for pilot training. This is in addition to rigorous maintenance and repair routines.
International: Qatar Airways
Major crashes in the last 50 years: 0
Worst crash: None
Qatar Airlines is well-known for its world-class service and luxurious in-flight amenities. Not only does it provide highly rated guest services, but it also has stringent safety standards that have earned the airline numerous safety awards.
International: Qantas Airways
Major crashes in the last 50 years: 0
Worst crash: None
Qantas Airlines follows a tight set of guidelines for training and maintenance Its fleet contains some of the most current planes on the market. Qantas Airlines provides cutting-edge navigation technology and redundant safety measures as part of its commitment to safety.
International: Etihad Airways
Major crashes since operations started: 0
Worst crash: None
Etihad Airways is a UAE-based airline that has been flying to places all over the world since 2004. It is consistently regarded as one of the top 10 safest airlines in the world, thanks to an impeccable safety record and advanced security systems.
International: Air New Zealand
Major crashes in the last 50 years: 2
Worst crash: 257 people died in the crash of 1979
Air New Zealand takes safety precautions to new heights (pun intended!). It not only strictly adheres to international rules, but extra precautions set it apart from the competition. It has installed the most advanced avionics systems in commercial aviation and has consistently received high marks for airline safety.
International: Singapore Airlines
Major crashes in the last 50 years: 2
Worst crash: 81 people died in the crash of 2000
Singapore Airlines has a long history of safety and has won numerous honors for its safety standards and performance, including being voted the "World's Best Airline" and the "Best Airline in Asia" by Skytrax. To protect the safety of its passengers and crew, Singapore Airlines uses a mix of technology training for its pilots and crew.
Safest low-cost airlines in 2023
- Air Arabia
- AirAsia Group
- Allegiant
- Air Baltic
- easyjet
- FlyDubai
- Frontier
- Jetstar Group
- Jetblue
- Indigo
It's been three years since the pandemic hit. But the question that's on many travelers' minds is the same – is air travel safe right now? The American public certainly seems to think so. With borders opening up across the United States and the world, bookings have increased. In fact, the United Nations World Tourism Organization anticipates that travel numbers will reach pre-pandemic levels in 2023.
This story was produced by Way.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.
