A Canadian tourist was arrested on Wednesday at Thailand's Chiang Mai International Airport for allegedly trying to open the door of a plane during takeoff, the Daily Mail reported.
Wong Sai Fung, 40, a computer engineer from Vancouver, had a severe panic attack and rushed toward the door of his Airbus A320. according to to the Daily Mail. He reportedly tried to force it open and accidentally deployed the emergency slide. As the plane was adjusting for takeoff, chaos erupted and a passenger witnessed the scene, and Mr. Hung was quickly subdued and escorted back to his seat by flight attendants.
“Thai Airways would like to explain the accident that occurred on TG121 on the Chiang Mai-Bangkok route on February 7, when an Airbus A320 aircraft was lining up for takeoff on the runway,” the airline said in a statement. The Daily Mail reported. “A passenger opened the plane's door, so a mechanic was sent to inspect and repair the plane in accordance with security regulations. The plane arrived at 12:34 a.m. on February 8th, and all passengers, pilots and flight attendants were safe. I was able to board the plane and depart.”
Canadian tourist in Thailand suffers panic attack and tries to open passenger plane door during takeoff https://t.co/jmQHymaSnE pic.twitter.com/zSsJftFYUE
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) February 8, 2024
“The plane was about to take off and someone panicked and tried to open the door,” one passenger said, the newspaper reported.
Immediate police intervention led to Mr Fung's arrest and subsequent detention at a local police station, the Daily Mail reported. During his conversation with authorities, he expressed his distress and confusion and attributed his actions to an overwhelming panic attack from his past experiences while traveling in Vietnam. (Related: Passenger reportedly crashes into cockpit, causing damage to plane)
According to the Daily Mail, Hung is currently facing charges including endangering the safety of the aircraft and disobeying the crew's orders, as outlined by Lieutenant Colonel Nattawut Neusorn of the Phupin Ratchaniwet Police Station. He faces serious legal consequences for the charges. Authorities, along with the Canadian Embassy and Tourism Police, are involved in an ongoing investigation that could lead to additional charges under aviation law.
The incident not only delayed the flight to Bangkok, but also affected the schedule of other flights. This caused disruption for a total of 2,296 travelers on 13 flights, of which 3 flights departed, 8 flights had to detour through the airport, and 2 flights had to be rerouted to another airport. Ta. according to To Bangkok Post Office.
