Passenger Opens Emergency Door Of Moving Airliner

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FULLTHRUST
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Passenger Opens Emergency Door Of Moving Airliner

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The Dubai Public Prosecution charged an Emirates passenger with drinking and
endangering aircraft and passenger safety, because he opened the emergency
door while the aircraft was in motion at Dubai International Airport last
week.

"While taxiing to the terminal building after landing at the Dubai
International Airport on Thursday, an aircraft door on flight EK040 from
Birmingham was opened by a passenger. This caused the emergency inflatable
slides to automatically activate," said Sarah Shaughnessy, spokesperson for
Emirates.

During the hearing at the Dubai Court of First Instance, a Canadian member
of the cabin crew testified she went to the restroom after the plane landed.

"When I came out I was surprised seeing the accused trying to open the
emergency door number five," she said. "I held the door's handle to try and
prevent him from opening it but he didn't care and managed to open the door,
making the emergency slide appear."

The crew managed to subdue and restrain the British passenger until
authorities arrived.

None of the 300-plus passengers were injured but the aircraft was damaged in
the incident, according to The Gulf News.

Emirates officials have ruled out the possibility this incident was part of
a hijacking attempt or other such activity.

"The defendant's behavior endangered the plane ... The hot temperature from
the running engine could have gutted the chute. The chute could have also
hit the aircraft's body and caused plenty of damage, but the pilot was
attentive and stopped the plane instantly," said a Jordanian chief engineer
for the airline which owns the damaged plane.