Plane passenger 'handed to police' after opening plane door and walking on wing

29 January 2024 , 09:32

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Plane passengers disembarking in Mexico City (Image: regina_villazon/Twitter)

A passenger who opened a plane's emergency exit and walked on its wing has been arrested at a Mexican airport.

But while he has been handed over to police, other travellers have come out in support of him. Dozens of fellow passengers signed a written statement saying that they were made to wait for four hours by AeroMexico without ventilation or water while the flight was delayed.

The Mexico City International Airport confirmed that a man had opened an emergency exit and walked out on a wing of a plane that was parked and waiting for take-off last Thursday. The airport said the man had been turned over to police.

The airport said in a statement that "yesterday a passenger on a flight to Guatemala opened an emergency door on a plane while it was stationary at a remote position, stood on a wing and then re-entered the cabin, without affecting the aircraft or anyone else". It added: "In line with international security regulations, this person turned himself over to the authorities."

According to photos of the statement by passengers posted online, they say the arrested man acted "to protect everyone, with the support of everyone". At least 77 passengers aboard the AeroMexico flight to Guatemala signed the handwritten document on notebook paper, photos of which were posted on social media, supporting the man's actions.

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"The delay and lack of air created conditions that endangered the health of the passengers. He saved our lives," according to the note. An incident report filed with airport authorities largely confirmed that version.

"Around 11.37am, a Mexican airline reported the beginning of a disturbance due to passenger discontent on flight AM672," according to the report. "The flight had been due to lift off at 8.45am Thursday, but because of a maintenance alert on the plane, the captain had to return to the gate for the required maintenance."

"The passengers were unhappy and one of them opened the emergency door and stepped out on the wing," the report said. "This event required the plane to be changed." Airport authorities did not identify the man, and they declined to comment on whether he remains in custody or faces charges.

Flight tracking sites confirmed that flight AM672 to Guatemala City was delayed for four hours and 56 minutes on Thursday. A video apparently recorded aboard the flight showed passengers fanning themselves and asking a flight attendant for water.

Tim Hanlon