A passenger jet flying in the United States made an emergency return after a passenger caused a disturbance and attempted to open a door, forcing the aircraft to turn back.
According to CNN, United Airlines Flight 3989, operated by Mesa Airlines, departed Indianapolis, Indiana, for Houston, Texas, on Sunday and returned to its departure airport about 15 minutes after takeoff.
According to flight tracking site FlightAware, the aircraft decided to turn back shortly after takeoff.
In air traffic control communication records posted on ATC.com, the captain alerted a controller to the emergency, saying a disruptive passenger was trying to open the cabin door and that flight attendants were attempting to restrain the passenger in a seat.
The aircraft then landed safely and taxied to the gate, where the passenger who caused the problem was taken off the plane and handed over to police. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the exact circumstances of the incident.
According to the FAA, more than 830 cases of unruly in-flight passenger behavior have been reported in the United States this year. In early June, a passenger on a Frontier Airlines flight tried to open an emergency exit and was subdued by another passenger who was a jiu-jitsu instructor. In May, a passenger attempted to enter the cockpit, prompting a United Airlines flight to divert to Madison, Wisconsin.
The FAA warns that unruly in-flight passengers may face criminal prosecution as well as civil fines exceeding $43,000 (about 67 million won).
Korea Also Bans Emergency Exit Tampering... "Even a Prank Can Bring Up to 10 Years in Prison"
In Korea as well, arbitrarily operating or attempting to operate an aircraft emergency exit is regarded as a serious threat to aviation safety.
Article 23, Paragraph 2 of the Aviation Security Act prohibits passengers from operating aircraft doors, exits, and various equipment, and stipulates that violations may be punished by up to 10 years in prison.
Nevertheless, cases of passengers touching emergency exits as a prank or operating them by mistake continue to occur. Last year, on a Korean Air flight from Incheon to Sydney, a passenger operated the emergency exit handle shortly after takeoff. When a flight attendant stopped him, the passenger explained, "I was just touching it while waiting. I did it as a joke."
In November of the same year, on a Korean Air flight from Incheon to Xi'an, another passenger touched an emergency exit during the flight and then claimed, "I thought it was the bathroom."
According to Korean Air, there were a total of 14 cases over the past two years in which passengers operated or attempted to operate emergency exits.
While simple contact or attempted operation had at times been settled with a warning from flight attendants or a release without charges by airport police, calls have continued for stronger punishment given the possibility of an actual emergency exit opening accident.
Korean Air plans to apply a zero-tolerance principle without exception to passengers who operate or attempt to operate emergency exits during flight. It plans to pursue criminal complaints, consider civil damages claims if actual harm occurs, and even impose boarding refusals on the passengers involved.
The Moment You Open an Emergency Exit, You Become a Criminal... Korean Air Establishes "Zero-Tolerance" Principle
