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Woman tries to open emergency exit -- midflight
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Ever wonder what happens when you open the exit door while you're in the air? I know that the thought has crossed my mind once or twice while I was sitting in the exit-row seat.Well, you can't. You'll notice that emergency exit and cabin doors open inward, meaning the air pressure from inside of the plane is going to be pushing hard out on the door at 30,000 feet. Meaning it's going to be near impossible for you to pull the door open. That and you're going to make the crew really mad at you.
Apparently, a woman on an American Airlines flight headed for Dallas yesterday didn't realize this and had to be subdued by the crew until they could divert to Houston. The Age reports that after landing in Houston, six passengers got off (because it was their final destination) and the rest of the plane went on their merry way to Dallas.
It's nice to know that not any nutjob can open an emergency exit at altitude and suck us all out of the plane, isn't it?
Filed under: Airlines, Transportation, Airports
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
AloysiusWeasley Nov 1st 2007 4:49PM
I hope we get an update on this story! Why was she trying to open the door? Was she trying to reenact that CSI episode? Personally, I think she should go to jail and have to pay for any pain and suffering to the other passengers, as I'm sure there was *some* sort of panic going on once everyone realized this crazy bimbo was trying to kill them all! Also, I'm glad to see the doors won't open, in any case.
Jim Nov 1st 2007 4:50PM
To current and past FA'S. Take it from a retired airline pilot - 34 accident free years - 27,000 airborne hours. IT is NOT the air stream that has anything to do with it in a pressurized commercial jet transport. In an unpressurized Cessna 172, it is the airstream. Don't fly with a crazy person in a Cessna 172. smiling
Pilots only "control" the doors" via pressurization, and we have lights in the cockpit verifying the doors are closed.
The gauge on the door only tells you the condition of the compressed air bottle attached to the emergency chute that is used to inflate the chutes.
A passenger trying to open the door is no worry to a pilot at all, see "Jim" above - IMPOSSIBLE . IT IS what the whacko may do to other passengers, or vice versa - that is of a concern. So, land at nearest suitable airport. Get maintenance to take care of loose nut by getting the police to remove.
Jim Nov 1st 2007 4:23PM
To current and past FA'S. Take it from a retired airline pilot - 34 accident free years - 27,000 airborne hours. IT is NOT the air stream that has anything to do with it in a pressurized commercial jet transport. In an unpressurized Cessna 172, it is the airstream. Don't fly with a crazy person in a Cessna 172. smiling
Pilots only "control" the doors" via pressurization, and we have lights in the cockpit verifying the doors are closed.
The gauge on the door only tells you the condition of the compressed air bottle attached to the emergency chute that is used to inflate the chutes.
A passenger trying to open the door is no worry to a pilot at all, see "Jim" above - IMPOSSIBLE . IT IS what the whacko may do to other passengers, or vice versa - that is of a concern. So, land at nearest suitable airport. Get maintenance to take care of loose nut by getting the police to remove.
stefano Nov 2nd 2007 2:29PM
I'm flying to Dallas with American Airlines next week, hope no one will try to open the door on my flight.
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