A domestic flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi was delayed for over two hours on Saturday after a passenger opened the emergency exit door as the airplane, operated by national flagship carrier Vietnam Airlines, was ready to take off.
Nguyen Duc Duy, identified as a 22-year-old college student, suddenly flung the emergency door open by pressing the “Open” button next to it when the Airbus A321 was on the runway, according the authority that manages Tan Son Nhat Airport where the flight VN1162 was scheduled to depart at 8:30 pm.
The evacuation slide was shortly inflated and thus the captain demanded an immediate postponement.
Duy explained he had just wanted to open the window to enjoy the view outside, as he was sitting beside the door, and thought the button was meant for it.
He was a first-time flyer, Duy said.
The other passengers were transferred to another flight which took off more than two hours later.
The student is facing fines of up to VND20 million (US$960) as prescribed by local aviation regulations, the authority said.
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