Airlines to be required to tell passengers not to open doors midflight

A 32-year-old passenger on a flight traveling from Jeju to Daegu opened an emergency exit 200 meters (700 feet) above ground in May mid-flight in the plane pictured above. [YONHAP]

Airline operators in Korea will be required to warn passengers against indiscriminately opening aircraft emergency exits, the government said Tuesday, following a recent mid-flight plane door opening incident.

The Transportation Ministry said such a measure was included in a draft amendment of the operating guideline for airline operators made available for public review until Dec. 14.

Currently, airlines are required to announce warnings against in-flight smoking, use of electronic devices and actions that interfere with the duties of the cabin crew, and that such behavior can become subject to criminal prosecution.

Passengers who tamper with plane entrances, emergency exits or devices that hinder the security or operation of an aircraft could face imprisonment for up to 10 years under aviation security laws.

The measure came following an incident in May in which a 32-year-old man on a flight traveling from Jeju to Daegu succeeded in opening the emergency exit 200 meters (700 feet) above ground.

Two other passengers on domestic flights were also arrested this year after trying to open the emergency exit mid-flight.

BY KIM JU-YEON, YONHAP [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]