South Korea is changing guidance to airlines in the light of a series of in-air incidents where passengers have attempted to open plane doors.
Obligatory already
The new rules require carriers to issue a warning about opening aircraft doors mid-flight. This will be in addition to existing safety announcements already made by crews which warn passengers not to smoke, to follow rules about use of electronic devices, and not to interfere with the work of cabin crew.
In a sign of how seriously the Seoul is taking the threat of passengers opening plane doors, the new wording for the safety announcement will be obligatory even while a public review is still open considering the draft text of the Transportation Ministry guidance, due to be confirmed on 14 December.
Ten years jailtime
There is already a judicial framework in place to cover aviation security and the crime of interfering with “plane entrances, emergency exits or devices that hinder the security or operation of an aircraft”. The penalty for that behaviour is up to ten years in prison.
One man in his thirties managed to open an Asiana Airlines plane door before touchdown in Daegu in May 2023, harming twelve people who hyperventilated or had ear injuries through his actions. Though at the time he was said to be suffering mental health difficulties, he now faces that maximum decade-long jail time if found guilty.
Asiana Airlines took immediate action and stopped selling “emergency row” seats near the plane doors in the wake of the incident. It’s quite a change from the days where carriers traditionally relied on emergency row passengers to be physically fit and able to open the exits if and when required.
Other incidents
Even though the necessary aviation law already applies, it has not been enough to deter other attempts. These include an attempt to open the exits of a plane on its way from New York to Incheon, as well as similar events on Brazilian and Russian flights. The woman involved in the Incheon incident was later found to be under the influence of crystal meth.
Follow suit?
The flurry of incidents has therefore prompted the current rethink about pre-take-off warnings. It remains to be seen whether other countries will follow suit or whether carriers will instigate their own warnings. It is also not yet clear whether the new South Korean approach applies only to the country’s own airlines or all carriers operating in its airspace.
