Passenger opens emergency exit on plane, goes down emergency slide

A passenger who opened the emergency exit on a plane before going down the emergency slide has been taken to hospital, police say.

A passenger has been arrested after he opened the emergency exit of a plane before going down the emergency slide.

The JQ507 Jetstar flight from Sydney had just landed at Melbourne airport on Thursday morning when the incident unfolded.

2GB producer Audrey Varghese, who was on-board the flight, told 3AW that people were screaming as the incident unfolded.

“My heart sank immediately,” she said.

“People were just screaming because of how strange this behaviour was.”

A passenger has opened the emergency exit of a plane before going down the emergency slide. Picture: James Gordon/X.

The Jetstar flight landed in Melbourne from Sydney. Picture: NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

She said the man got up while the plane was still moving and attempted to exit his row.

“There were multiple attempts of the air hostesses telling him to sit down again,” she said.

“As soon as the plane had started coming to a stop he immediately got up and basically charged to where the emergency exit row is and in the process shoving people, causing a bit of commotion, ripped open the emergency door, and the slide was deployed and he jumped off the plane.”

The incident allegedly unfolded at Melbourne airport. Picture: James Gordon/X.

An Australian Federal Police (AFP) spokeswoman said the man had been arrested and taken to hospital for assessment.

“AFP officers arrested a man for alleged aggressive behaviour and breaching aircraft safety protocols on a domestic service arriving from Sydney,” the spokeswoman said.

“The man was assessed by ambulance officers and later transferred to hospital for further assessment, where he remains. 

“AFP is continuing to investigate this matter, and charges are likely to be laid at a future date.”

The man was detained at the airport. Picture: X

A Jetstar spokesperson earlier said the incident occurred while the plane was parked at the gate.

“We can confirm that a passenger opened the emergency exit door after arrival into Melbourne, which automatically deployed the slide,” the spokesperson said.

A Melbourne airport spokesperson said the airport was proud of the response from staff.

“A passenger on a Jetstar flight exited the aircraft via the emergency exit upon arrival into Melbourne airport,” the spokesperson said.

“The passenger was immediately detained by staff and arrested by the Australian Federal Police. Melbourne Airport is proud of the exceptional response from ground crew, which meant there was no immediate danger to other passengers or airport staff.”

Originally published as Passenger opens emergency exit on plane, goes down emergency slide