Last weekend, an extraordinary incident occurred on board a Plus Ultra flight. A passenger attempted to open one of the A330 doors while the plane was in the air.
The incident occurred on flight PU701 from Madrid Barajas Airport to Caracas Airport, Venezuela. During the flight, for an unknown reason, one of the passengers tried to open a door. The cabin crew rushed to the passenger and attempted to remove the man from the door. Several fellow passengers assisted the cabin crew. After the disruptor was overpowered, he was restrained. Despite the incident, the flight arrived half an hour earlier than scheduled. Upon arrival at the Venezuelan airport, the passenger was arrested.
Although the passenger made a serious attempt to open the A330 door, the chances of success were negligible. Once airplanes reach an altitude of approximately 10,000 feet, or about three kilometers, the pressure difference between the cabin and the outside air ensures that the doors remain closed. Below 10,000 feet, the likelihood of an aircraft door being opened during flight is higher.
American Airlines
In November, a similar incident occurred on board an American Airlines flight. A visibly agitated passenger attempted to open one of the doors shortly after departing from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. Just like on the Plus Ultra flight, the passenger was overpowered by the cabin crew and fellow travelers. One of the involved flight attendants sustained injuries to her wrist and neck and had to be treated in the hospital.