South Korean Arrested for Opening Plane Exit Door Mid-Air, Faces up to 10 Years in Prison

A man who opened an emergency exit door during a flight, arrives to attend an arrest warrant review at the Daegu District Court in Daegu, South Korea, on May 28, 2023. Yun Kwan-shick/Yonhap via AP

SEOUL, South Korea—A man who opened an emergency exit door during a flight in South Korea was formally arrested Sunday and faces up to 10 years in prison on a charge of violating the aviation security law, officials said.

During a preliminary questioning, the 33-year-old told investigators that he felt suffocated and tried to get off the plane quickly, according to police.