A Japan-to-US flight made an emergency stop in Seattle after a man tried to open the aircraft door mid-air.
A flight that took off from Tokyo bound for Houston, Texas, was forced to make an emergency landing in Seattle after a serious mid-air incident. A man reportedly tried to open one of the plane’s emergency doors, prompting chaos on board.
The flight, All Nippon Airways (ANA) Flight 114, was several hours into its journey when the crew decided to divert the aircraft. The airline later confirmed the decision was due to an “unruly passenger.”
Authorities from the Port of Seattle Police revealed that the man may have been experiencing a “medical crisis” at the time of the incident. Quick action from the crew and some passengers helped stop the man before he could do any harm.
“The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority,” ANA said in a statement while thanking the team and law enforcement for handling the situation quickly.
Second Passenger Also Removed in Seattle
Once the plane landed safely at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, another person was also removed for separate disruptive behaviour, although this incident was unrelated to the door attempt.
The man who tried to open the door was taken to a local hospital after being detained. It’s still unclear whether he will face any criminal charges.
The aircraft later resumed its trip, finally landing at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston around 12:40 PM, roughly four hours behind schedule.
Experts continue to say that opening a plane door during flight is nearly impossible because of the high cabin pressure. Still, such incidents seem to be happening more often. In recent years, other flights — including one by Jetstar and another by American Airlines — faced similar threats.
As these cases rise globally, airlines are urging their teams to stay alert and ready for any emergency during flights.
