Korean airline stops selling tickets for seats near emergency exits

South Korean airline Asiana Airlines has stopped selling some seats near the emergency exit doors on its A321-200 aircraft, after a passenger opened the door in mid-air.

Asiana Airlines announced that starting May 28, it will no longer sell tickets for exit seats 31A and 26A on 14 Airbus A321-200 aircraft. "To ensure safety, this measure will be applied even when flights are fully booked," the airline said.

The Daegu City Court in North Gyeongsang Province, southeastern South Korea, on May 28 issued an arrest warrant for a 33-year-old male passenger surnamed Lee on charges of violating aviation security laws, citing the seriousness of the incident and the risk to the flight.

Lee was previously detained by police for questioning. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted under the aviation security law.

Emergency exit on Asiana Airlines plane after the incident on May 26. Photo: Reuters — Emergency exit on Asiana Airlines plane after the incident on May 26. Photo: *Reuters*

The decision was made after Lee opened the emergency exit of the Asiana Airlines Airbus A321-200 at an altitude of 200 meters, while the plane was landing at Daegu airport on May 26. None of the 194 passengers on board were injured, but nine people were taken to the hospital due to difficulty breathing and have since been discharged.

During questioning, Lee said he opened the plane door because he "felt stuffy" and wanted to get off quickly. He also said he was "under a lot of pressure because he had just lost his job."

On his way to court today, the suspect said he was "very sorry to the children" on the plane, when asked by reporters if he was aware of the danger of opening the door.

Police escort Lee to the Deagu City Court for questioning on May 28. Photo: Yonhap — Police escort Lee to the Deagu City Court for questioning on May 28. Photo: *Yonhap*

A South Korean transport ministry official said it was the "first such incident" in the country's aviation history. Aviation experts explained that the incident was rare, as the emergency exit doors on planes are designed to close tightly in the air and are capable of withstanding huge pressure differences.

"At altitudes above 3,000 meters, the pressure difference between inside and outside the fuselage makes opening the emergency exit door completely impossible. The pressure in the cabin is then great enough to force the door to stick to the fuselage," explained retired Colonel Steve Ganyard, a former US Marine Corps pilot with more than 4,200 flight hours.

However, the pressure difference between inside and outside the plane will decrease as the plane descends to prepare to land at the airport. "Atmospheric pressure can equalize with the cabin at very low altitudes, allowing the emergency exit to open as in this incident," said Colonel Ganyard.