Man arrested for opening emergency door mid-air on Asiana flight

A man has been arrested for opening the emergency door of an Asiana Airlines flight as it was landing in Daegu, South Korea, on Friday afternoon.

The incident caused panic and chaos among the 194 passengers and crew members on board the flight from Jeju Island.

Door opened minutes before landing

According to Asiana Airlines officials, the man, who was sitting next to an emergency door, pulled the lever and opened the door when the plane was about 10 minutes away from landing. The door flew open and wind started to blow into the cabin, creating a loud noise and shaking the plane.

Some passengers screamed and cried, while others tried to calm them down. The flight attendants rushed to close the door, but it was too late. The plane landed safely with the door still open at Daegu International Airport.

Man arrested and questioned by police

The man, who is in his 30s, was arrested by the police at the airport and taken to a nearby police station for questioning. He reportedly told the police that he was feeling suffocated and wanted to get some fresh air. He also claimed that he did not know that opening the door would cause such a problem.

He is facing charges of violating the Aviation Security Act, which prohibits interfering with the operation of an aircraft or endangering the safety of passengers. He could face up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won ($44,000).

(Read Also: Door Rips Open on Asiana Airlines Flight, Six Passengers Experience Breathing Difficulties)

Asiana Airlines apologizes and offers compensation

Asiana Airlines issued an apology to the passengers and said it would offer compensation for their inconvenience and distress. The airline also said it would conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and take measures to prevent similar cases in the future. The airline added that opening an emergency door mid-air is extremely dangerous and could cause serious injuries or even fatalities.

(Read Also: Passenger Opens Door on Asiana Airlines Flight, Prompts Investigation in South Korea)