Passenger fined over $500,000 for opening aircraft door on Asiana Airlines flight

By Hoang Vu September 5, 2024 | 10:33 pm PT

Asiana Airlines' Airbus A321 plane, of which a passenger opened a door on a flight shortly before the aircraft landed, is pictured at an airport in Daegu, South Korea, May 26, 2023. Photo by Yonhap via Reuters

A man has been ordered to pay compensation exceeding 700 million won (US$527,300) to Asiana Airlines for causing a serious disturbance by opening an aircraft door mid-flight last year.

The Daegu District Court ruled on Thursday that the 32-year-old passenger, identified only by his surname Lee, must reimburse the airline for "destruction and damage to property," according to a report by Korea Joongang Daily.

The court determined that Lee's actions led to the detachment of the emergency escape slide from the aircraft.

In May last year, during a flight from Jeju to Daegu with 194 passengers onboard, Lee opened the emergency door as the plane was preparing to land at an altitude of 213 to 243 meters. The incident caused nine passengers to be hospitalized with breathing difficulties, Reuters reported.

Lee was subsequently arrested by police for violating aviation safety laws and causing damage to the aircraft.

South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport estimated the cost of repairs for the damaged emergency door and slide to be around 640 million won, Korea Bizwire reported.