19-Year-Old Korean Man Tests Positive for Drugs After Attempting to Open Plane Door Mid-Flight
Seoul/ Hong Kong – A 19-year-old Korean man who tried to open a plane door mid-flight has tested positive for drugs following an investigation by the Incheon Airport police.
According to CNN, the man’s “abnormal behavior” prompted the police to conduct a simple drug test with his consent. The man spoke incoherently to media when he was heading to attend his arrest warrant hearing on Tuesday, June 20, stating, “I felt I was being attacked,” when asked why he attempted to open the plane’s door.
The incident occurred on a red-eye flight from Cebu in the Philippines to Seoul, South Korea. Approximately an hour into the flight, the man began “acting strangely,” prompting officials from Jeju Airlines to move him to the front row of the plane close to the exit door where staff could monitor him. The airline reported that the man also complained of feeling “pressure” on his chest.
After being moved to a different seat, the man suddenly ran towards the emergency door and attempted to open it. However, he was immediately subdued by the crew, who used a lasso rope and tie wraps to keep him controlled for the rest of the flight, according to a Jeju Airlines official. Fortunately, the door remained closed, and the plane was left undamaged. None of the 180 passengers on board were harmed during the incident.
Upon landing at Seoul’s Incheon Airport on Monday, June 19, the passenger was handed over to the police. An arrest warrant was issued for the passenger, who is now accused of violating the Aviation Security Act, according to the police.
The man’s hair and urine samples have been sent to the National Forensics Service for a full analysis to determine the type and amount of drugs taken. The results are expected within a week or two, the police added.
This incident comes just a month after another individual successfully opened a plane door on a Korean carrier. In that incident, a man in his 30s managed to open an aircraft’s emergency door just before landing at Daegu, causing strong gusts of wind to rush through the plane’s cabin, terrifying passengers on the Asiana Airlines flight.
In 2016, low-cost Korean Air subsidiary Jin Air was forced to turn back 40 minutes into a flight after discovering that one of the plane’s doors wasn’t completely shut.
The investigation into the 19-year-old Korean man’s case is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the motive behind his attempt to open the plane door mid-flight.
What security measures are airlines implementing to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future
Uth Korea on June 18. As the plane was cruising at an altitude of 10,000 meters, the man suddenly made an attempt to open the emergency exit door. Quick-thinking flight attendants and passengers restrained him until the plane eventually landed safely in Incheon.
Authorities were immediately alerted and the man was taken into custody upon arrival. He now faces charges of endangering the safety of an aircraft and violating the Aviation Security Act.
The investigation conducted by Incheon Airport police revealed that the man had consumed drugs prior to boarding the flight. The drug test results confirmed the presence of narcotics in his system.
While the man’s motives for attempting to open the plane door remain unclear, authorities suspect that his drug consumption influenced his erratic and dangerous behavior. The incident serves as a reminder of the potential dangers of drug use and its effects on individuals’ judgment and actions.
In the wake of this incident, airlines are stepping up security measures to prevent similar occurrences. Passengers should also remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior to cabin crew to ensure a safe and secure travel experience for all.
This incident only highlights the need for stricter security measures to prevent such reckless behavior on flights. It’s fortunate that the situation was handled promptly and effectively, ensuring the safety of everyone onboard.