A man in his 30s has been arrested for opening an emergency door of an Asiana Airlines flight while it was landing in South Korea.
The aircraft landed safely at Daegu International Airport even though its door was open but it left other passengers terrified.
Many reportedly fainted while others were rushed to hospital after experiencing breathing problems and severe ear pain.
The suspect, identified by only his surname Lee, initially admitted to pulling the lever of the emergency door but would not say why.
Speaking to the Korean news outlet Yonhap News Agency, a police officer said: “It is difficult to have a normal conversation with him. We will investigate the motive of the crime and punish him.”
But it has now been revealed that the passenger opened the exit door because he was ‘uncomfortable’ and ‘wanted to get off the plane quickly.’
He also told police that he was stressed after losing his job.
According to BBC, an officer also said that the man “is mentally struggling right now and losing his footing. We could not investigate him properly due to his state.”
Airbus A321-200 had taken off from Jeju Island on Friday and while landing about an hour later, Lee opened the exit door while the aircraft was still 250m (700ft) from the ground.
A video posted on social media shows the huge hap in the left side of the plane, leaving the other 193 passengers frightened.
Flight attendants were not able to stop the man as the aircraft was about to land.
One of the 194 passengers aboard told Yonhap: “It was chaos with people close to the door appearing to faint one by one and flight attendants calling out for doctors on board through broadcasting. I thought the plane was blowing up. I thought I was going to die like this.”
Another said: “Children quivered and cried in panic. Those sitting near the exit must have been shocked the most.”
🇰🇷 | Un pasajero de un avión de Asiana Airlines abrió una puerta de salida de emergencia en pleno vuelo, antes de aterrizar en Corea del Sur. Doce pasajeros fueron hospitalizados con dificultades respiratorias. pic.twitter.com/JM2E8qmLgZ
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