Drunk passenger attempts to open emergency exit during Changsha-Hohhot flight

By Ryan Kilpatrick, January 20, 2015

Last Thursday, a passenger on Hainan Airlines flight HU7529 from Changsha to Hohhot attempted to force open the airplane's emergency exit during descent before cabin crew and a sky marshal on board forcibly restrained him.

The passenger, surnamed Feng, reportedly rose from his seat suddenly and began pursuing a stewardess, heatedly arguing with her before reaching for the overwing door

At the airport's police station in the Inner Mongolia capital, Feng vehemently denied the series of events as described by cabin crew and air marshals. He denied ever having tried to open the emergency exit and

Since the aircraft had to depart again almost immediately, flight crew were unable to help police collect evidence against the man. When police reached the passenger seated beside Feng by telephone, he confirmed that after the plane took off from Changsha Huanghua International Airport Feng immediately began "speaking in a very loud voice" and got into a dispute with another neighboring passenger.

Stewardesses calmed the man down temporarily, but soon after they left he began arguing with the other man again. Passengers realized that Feng had ben drinking and tried to ignore him, but he just got louder and louder.

When a stewardess reminded passengers to fasten their seatbelt for the descent, Feng left his seat and began hurling "offensive" and "vulgar" abuses at her. When he reached for the door, onboard police officer intervened.

After receiving testimony form several other passengers, police at Hohhot Baita International Airport have detained Feng for ten days and fined him the grand sum of RMB500.