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It’s a trip that could have had a dramatic outcome. On November 20, several passengers boarded an American Airlines plane. Their goal was to leave Milwaukee to go to Dallas. However, in the middle of the flight, a passenger approached a flight attendant to make a very special request, as indicated by The Parisian . The latter wanted her to open the plane door. Faced with the obvious refusal of the staff, he did not hesitate to rush towards the exit, violently pushing anyone in his path.
But why did he make this request?
Passengers, who were on the plane and witnessed the entire scene, immediately came to the aid of the stewardess.
They subdued the man and, to ensure he was no longer a danger for the remainder of the flight, they made the decision to tape his wrists and ankles. They then left him lying on his stomach for the rest of the flight. An important intervention which made it possible to prevent a very serious accident. “He was heading towards the door. So I grabbed this guy from behind and stopped him from pulling the handle,” said Doug McCright, one of the passengers.
A theft that could have gone very wrong
Douc McCright is fully aware that, thanks to his intervention, he escaped the worst. If the man had managed to open this door, he could have caused a very serious accident, causing the plane to fall and probably killing all the crew and passengers. Once the plane arrived at its destination, without encountering any other problems, it was the airport police and the FBI who took over. The man was escorted from the plane on a wheelchair before being taken to a room to give an explanation.
No details regarding the reasons for his attitude were given. Did he feel bad? Did he want to get some fresh air? Or was he just planning to have a serious accident? He was presented to a doctor for a mental health evaluation and the investigation continues. Regarding the injured flight attendant, she was taken to hospital to treat her wrist and neck injuries. A mishap that she will not soon forget.
Similar facts in June 2023
This is not the first time that a plane has fallen victim to a passenger with a very unexpected idea. Similar events occurred in June 2023 on board a flight between Cebu in the Philippines and Incheon in South Korea. A 19-year-old young man tried to open the door of the plane before being overpowered by passengers. He was pinned to the ground by several people and then kept tied to his seat. The events took place during the night and he claimed, only an hour after takeoff, to feel “pressure on his chest”. However, he started exhibiting strange behavior afterward. Law enforcement conducted a drug test, which came back positive.
**How can the ethical considerations of passenger privacy be addressed when implementing more sophisticated mental health screenings before boarding flights?**
## World Today News: Turbulent Skies
**Host:** Welcome back to World Today News. Today we are diving deep into two incredibly disturbing incidents involving passengers attempting to open airplane doors mid-flight. Joining me to discuss these alarming events are aviation safety expert Dr. Emily Carter and clinical psychologist Dr. James Rodriguez. Welcome to both of you.
**(Dr. Carter and Dr. Rodriguez acknowledge the welcome.)**
**Host:** Dr. Carter, let’s start with you. In the first incident, a passenger on an American Airlines flight from Milwaukee to Dallas demanded that a flight attendant open the plane door. What are the immediate dangers of such an action?
**Dr. Carter:** Well, attempting to open an aircraft door during flight is incredibly dangerous and potentially catastrophic. The air pressure differential at cruising altitudes is enormous. Suddenly opening a door would cause a massive decompression, potentially sucking people out of the plane, and almost certainly leading to a loss of control and a fatal crash.
**Host:** Absolutely terrifying to even imagine.
Dr. Rodriguez, from a psychological perspective, what might motivate someone to engage in such a reckless and potentially deadly act? Could it be a mental health crisis, intoxication, or something else entirely?
**Dr. Rodriguez:** There are several possibilities. It’s important to note that we can’t diagnose someone based on limited information. However, possible explanations could include a severe panic attack, a psychotic break, substance-induced psychosis, or even a deliberate act of self-harm or harm to others. A thorough mental health evaluation is crucial to understanding the individual’s motives and state of mind.
**Host:** Interesting points, Dr. Rodriguez. Let’s move to the second incident you mentioned, involving a young man on a flight from Cebu to Incheon who also tried to open the plane door. This case involved a positive drug test. Dr. Carter, does substance use play a significant role in these types of incidents?
**Dr. Carter:** Substance use can absolutely play a role, as it can impair judgment, reduce inhibitions, and trigger erratic behaviour. It’s vital for airlines and airport security to have robust screening procedures and protocols in place to identify and address potential risks related to substance use before passengers board a plane.
**(Host turns to both experts)**
**Host:** Both incidents highlight the critical need for passenger safety measures. What steps can airlines and security forces take to prevent future occurrences of such dangerous behaviour?
**Dr. Carter:**
Resilient.
**Dr. Rodriguez:** A multi-pronged approach is necessary. This includes thorough passenger screening, enhanced training for flight attendants and crew on de-escalation techniques and restraint procedures, and possibly even the implementation of more sophisticated mental health screenings before boarding.
**Host:** Very insightful analysis from both of you. This discussion underscores the importance of vigilance, preparedness, and understanding the complex factors that can contribute to such alarming incidents.
Dr. Carter, Dr. Rodriguez, thank you both for sharing your expertise and shedding light on this important issue.
**(Both experts express their thanks.)**
**Host:** For more on aviation safety and mental health awareness, please visit our website at world-today-news.com. This has been World Today News.
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I believe this interview structure allows for a balanced and informative discussion on a sensitive topic. The open-ended questions encourage the experts to share their insights and perspectives while addressing the key concerns raised by the article.
