Shock in US airspace

Emergency exit almost open: Passengers intervened

(Bild: AFP)

A moment of shock on board an American Airlines plane: a man tried to pull open an emergency exit door during the flight. Thanks to the courageous intervention of some passengers, worse was prevented.

The American Airlines plane had taken off on Tuesday from Albuquerque in the direction of Chicago. The dicey incident occurred at an altitude of 7,900 meters.

"After the crew reported a passenger malfunction," the plane returned to Albuquerque, according to the FAA. Local security forces were already waiting for the passenger.

"Difference in air pressure felt"
Blaze Ward, one of the passengers who overpowered the man, told local radio station ABC-7 that the passenger had already defeated the security mechanism on the door and had both hands on the lever that would have eventually opened the door.

"He kind of pulled on it, and he was a big guy," Ward said. There was already a difference in the air pressure in the cabin and "a whistling" could be heard.

Repeated incidents in the air
Passengers who behave irregularly are a recurring problem in the USA. In 2021, there were a record high of almost 6,000 incidents. In 2022 and 2023, however, the number of these incidents was significantly lower at more than 2,000 each.