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At least 12 people suffered injuries Friday after officials said a passenger opened an Asiana Airlines commercial plane door during a flight in South Korea.
The incident took place on an Airbus A321 jet in East Asia as the plane, carrying 194 people was heading to the city of Daegu from the southern island of Jeju, Asiana Airlines and government officials confirmed.
A man sitting in the emergency seat row opened the door when the aircraft was about 700 feet from the ground and nearly two minutes from landing in the city about 150 miles south of Seoul, the South Korean Transport Ministry said, according to the Associated Press.
Passengers on board reported they attempted to stop the man, who was able to partially open the door, officials reported.
Video shot by what appears to be someone sitting three rows behind the emergency exit aisle, shows the plane in the air, with an emergency exit door open to the person’s left.
Passengers sitting in seats next to the open door appear to remain buckled while articles of their clothing blow behind their heads in the footage.
The plane landed safely.
When the plane landed, airport police arrested the man on charges including violating the aviation security law, a ministry statement said.
Officials have not released the man’s identity yet. According to ministry transportation laws, he faces up to 10 years in prison in connection to the incident.
According to local emergency officials, crews transported 12 passengers to hospitals for treatment in connection to “breathing problems and other minor symptoms.”
‘Severe ear pain’
Footage shot on board shows some of the passengers’ hair being blown about by air blasting into the cabin through the open door.
Passengers screamed and cried, Yonhap news agency reported, and some said they suffered “severe ear pain” after the door opened.
Photos shot on the ground show at least one person being loaded into the back of an ambulance. Another shot taken inside the plane displays police arresting the person suspected of opening the plane door.
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Contributing: Associated Press
Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.
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