Plane passenger's bizarre excuse for deploying emergency slide

A man opened a passenger plane’s emergency door and deployed its evacuation slide because he thought the cabin was “too stuffy and too hot”.

The 25-year-old, with surname Chen, has been detained for 15 days, while Chinese low-cost carrier Lucky Air suggested it would be seeking damages from the clueless traveller.

The incident happened after flight 8L9720 had already landed in Nanjiao Airport in Mianyang City in south-western China’s Sichuan Province on April 27, having flown from the city of Sanya, capital of South China’s Hainan Province.

With the aircraft parked at the airport apron and all passengers preparing to disembark, Chen suddenly reached over to the exit nearest to him and lifted the latch, causing the emergency door to spring open.

The aeroplane’s evacuation slide was automatically deployed.

Chen was immediately detained by airport police and later handed over to the Mianyang Public Security Bureau, whose personnel questioned and then detained him for 15 days.

The authorities said Chen revealed he “waited in the aisle for 10 minutes as passengers left the plane”, adding that he felt the cabin was “too stuffy and too hot”.

He said he “lifted the latch next to the window” and “the door just fell off”.

Chen also claimed he had no idea that was the aircraft’s cabin door.

Mianyang City’s civil aviation administration said Chen’s actions caused major delays as well as manpower and equipment expenses costing more than 100,000 RMB ($20,869 AUD).

His stunt might also have damaged the evacuation slide, which would put the estimated damages at several times the aforementioned amount.

Lucky Air suggested it would be seeking compensation from the man.