A terrifying mid-air incident unfolded on February 28 when a passenger on Plus Ultra Flight 701 from Madrid to Caracas allegedly attempted to open an emergency exit while the plane was cruising over the Atlantic Ocean.
According to eyewitnesses, the man suddenly jumped from his seat and ran toward the emergency exit, aggressively pulling at the door lever. Panicked passengers screamed, while flight attendants rushed to stop him. Video footage from the flight shows crew members struggling to restrain the man as he stood near the exit.
With the help of several passengers, the flight attendants managed to subdue him, pinning him to the floor and securing his hands behind his back. He remained under close supervision for the rest of the flight.
The Daily Mail reported that at least one flight attendant sustained injuries while trying to control the situation. The crew member suffered a partial fibula fracture, which required medical attention and will keep them out of work for several weeks.
Despite the chaos, the Airbus A330 landed safely ahead of schedule in Caracas, where authorities immediately took the suspect into custody.
Airline Responds to the Incident
In a statement, a Plus Ultra spokesperson explained that the passenger had been causing disturbances even before the incident.
"A passenger began to feel restless, annoying the person in the next seat with shouts and slapping him while he was asleep," the airline said.
The crew quickly intervened, separating the passenger and moving him to another seat. However, moments later, he ran toward one of the plane's emergency doors and attempted to manipulate it.
"Immediately, our cabin crew subdued the passenger and, following the action protocol, secured him in the back of the plane until he reached the destination," the airline added.
"At all times, he was accompanied by two crew members, lying on the ground and attended to, to avoid any possible altercation."
Can Emergency Exits Open Mid-Flight?
As per reports, while attempting to open an emergency exit mid-air is alarming, modern aircraft are built with safety mechanisms that make it nearly impossible to do so. The high difference in pressure between the cabin and the outside air effectively seals the doors shut, and many aircraft also have flight lock mechanisms to prevent tampering.
However, rare incidents have been recorded. In 2023, a passenger on an Asiana Airlines Airbus A321 managed to open an exit door while the aircraft was descending to land in South Korea.
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