Plane passenger who opened door mid-flight told police he felt ‘suffocated’

A passenger who opened the door of an aeroplane when it was flying said that he felt ‘suffocated’ and needed to ‘get off quickly’ before flinging the emergency door open.

Well, you would, wouldn’t you?

The noise when the door opened was deafening, and things started to be blown around the cabin.

At the time, the plane is believed to have been descending and at around 700 feet from the ground.

Mercifully, the whole load of people onboard, as well as the crew, were able to stay in their seats and the plane landed properly and safely with the door open.

12 passengers were taken to hospital later for breathing difficulties, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency.

One passenger, a mother of one of the schoolchildren that were on board, said: "The children were shaking, crying and frightened.

“Those sitting near the exit must have been shocked the most.”

The 33-year-old man was arrested once the plane was safely on the ground.

An official said: “It is difficult to have a normal conversation with him.

"We will investigate the motive of the crime and punish him.”

Since then, it has been reported that the man was complaining about feeling ‘suffocated’ and a serious need to ‘get off quickly’.

In a press conference, he said: "I'm really sorry to [the] kids.

"I wanted to get off the plane soon."

It has also been reported that he was struggling and feeling stressed after losing his job.

The reports also suggest that the man was travelling on his own at the time of the incident, and did not appear to be intoxicated at the time.

He has been questioned by the authorities, who released a statement that said: “Police are investigating the incident after a passenger who was sitting near the emergency exit said he touched its lever.”

The country’s transport ministry has confirmed that - if convicted - the man could face 10 years in prison.

Police have 20 days from the incident to decide whether to pursue a prosecution.