A passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight waiting at the gate in New Orleans last month opened an emergency exit, climbed onto the plane’s wing and jumped to the ground, police said. In July, a United Airlines flight to Amsterdam was diverted when a business class flier launched into a tirade after discovering his preferred meal wasn’t available. In South Korea in May, a passenger opened his aircraft’s emergency exit midflight, forcing the jet to land. Regulators are warning that passenger unruliness poses a significant risk to flight safety, either by passengers directly interfering with aircraft—by attempting to open doors, emergency exits or accessing the cockpit—or by preventing cabin crew from performing safety duties. Others say passengers are still rusty and nervous after an extended break from flying, or overwhelmed by the stresses of full planes and delays.

Source: Wall Street Journal December 22, 2023 11:52 UTC