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by Carla Boonkong & Son Nguyen
November 10, 2019

A young western man could be facing up to 7 years in prison as Thai authorities take an increasingly serious view of an incident that occurred last Wednesday in Chiang Mai when he dramatically and violently opened an emergency exit of an aircraft as it taxied for takeoff on a flight to Bangkok.

The passenger’s actions were dramatic as he violently pulled the door of the Airbus A32o open. Some passengers told authorities that the young man appeared to be drunk.

The maximum prison sentence that can be imposed for the violation of the law is up to seven years. It is also being reported that officials are looking at a possible breach of the Air Navigation Act.

https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news- ... rs-prison/

This could be stupid however unforgivable as it endangers many lives.

I doubt that he will get 7 years but a jail sentence for potentially endangering dozens of lives is in order.

I have to admit the Thai Smile air hostesses are rather gorgeous, been on a few of their flights and it's a pleasure to observe how professional they are when dishing out the the in flight meals to seats A and F.

yong wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:38 pm This could be stupid however unforgivable as it endangers many lives.

How opening an emergency exit while taxiing endangers many lives is beyond me.

Stupid, yes.
Dangerous, hardly.

Kammekor wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11, 2019 3:49 pm

yong wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:38 pm This could be stupid however unforgivable as it endangers many lives.

How opening an emergency exit while taxiing endangers many lives is beyond me.

Stupid, yes.
Dangerous, hardly.

What if he had done it two minutes later with the plane about to lift off?

hanno wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11, 2019 4:25 pm

Kammekor wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11, 2019 3:49 pm

yong wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:38 pm This could be stupid however unforgivable as it endangers many lives.

How opening an emergency exit while taxiing endangers many lives is beyond me.

Stupid, yes.
Dangerous, hardly.

What if he had done it two minutes later with the plane about to lift off?

Should be OK up to about 26,000

Think someone would notice by then as it may get a bit chilly.

hanno wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11, 2019 4:25 pm

Kammekor wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11, 2019 3:49 pm

yong wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:38 pm This could be stupid however unforgivable as it endangers many lives.

How opening an emergency exit while taxiing endangers many lives is beyond me.

Stupid, yes.
Dangerous, hardly.

What if he had done it two minutes later with the plane about to lift off?

I'm no aviation expert but I'd assume it's near-on impossible to open an aircraft door while the plane is in full motion (either in flight or taking off at speed) due to the extreme differences in pressure between the inside and outside of the aircraft?

How drunk must you have to be to do something like that? Drunk enough for the ground crew to realise he perhaps wasn't fit to fly?

hanno wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11, 2019 4:25 pm

Kammekor wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11, 2019 3:49 pm

yong wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:38 pm This could be stupid however unforgivable as it endangers many lives.

How opening an emergency exit while taxiing endangers many lives is beyond me.

Stupid, yes.
Dangerous, hardly.

What if he had done it two minutes later with the plane about to lift off?

In theory if he would throw out the emergency door during lift off or initial climb it could damage the tail's horizontal stabilizers, but he did it during taxiing, not during lift off. Plus, the stabilizers are designed to take a hit and survive at relatively low speeds (bird strikes).

So even then....

DaveG wrote: ↑Mon Nov 11, 2019 3:41 pm I have to admit the Thai Smile air hostesses are rather gorgeous, been on a few of their flights and it's a pleasure to observe how professional they are when dishing out the the in flight meals to seats A and F.

They definitely have the best staff going. Smoking hot. Great Uniforms. Not just in the promos but in real life.

Lucky you Dave on your journeys with Smile - I wish you many more.

Apparently the chap in question hadn't quite your appreciation of the experience

Still, on the upside the other passengers had 1hr 20 mins more of the hospitality on display.

Maybe he'll rip the door of his comfortable cell next.